UNMIN probes trader's murder, family suspects Prachanda's hand

Kathmandu, May 19 (UNI) With the family members of slain Maoist sympathiser businessman Shresta suspecting the involvement of CPN-M Chairman Prachanda in his murder, the United Nation Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has launched a through probe into the incident.

For the third consecutive day, protests continued to mount with agitated locals, the victim's relatives, members of the business community and various political parties staging demonstrations in the capital yesterday.

Meanwhile, Shrestha's relatives are scheduled to submit a letter to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today, Kantipur reported.

In the interim, UNMIN has started investigating the death of businessman Ram Hari Shrestha, a Maoist sympathiser, on Saturday following the publication of the news that Shrestha was held captive and beaten to death inside the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) cantonment at Shaktikhor in Chitwan district.

An UNMIN team of military experts will find out if Shrestha was killed inside the camp or somewhere outside, and why the 24-hour UNMIN monitors and soldiers did not know about the incident if Shrestha was held captive inside the camp. All the Maoist army camps are under survellience by the UN watchdog.

It is alleged that a group of Maoist army men led by third division commander Kali Bahadur Magar 'Bibidh' had abducted Shrestha from Santimarga in the capital on April 27 on charges of stealing Rs 1.7 million.

Shrestha was held in captivity at the Maoist third division cantonment a Shaktikhor in Chitwan district and was killed on May 10 and thrown into the Narayani River.

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