Gangster Pun killed in police firing

RUPANDEHI, Feb 21: Notorious gangster Manoj Pun and his helper Som Ale were shot dead in a police encounter at Devdaha in Rupandehi today morning, the police said.

A team from the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police shot at the two gangsters on a motorcycle in retaliation, said Superintendent of Police Shyam Gyawali.

The police team acting on a special tip off had launched a search for the goons at Bhawanipur in Devdaha-4. The encounter occurred at around 3:00 am. The police also recovered a pistol from Pun.

Both Pun and Ale injured in the police firing were declared dead later at Lumbini Zonal Hospital.

Pun has been charged with involvement in multiple killings like that of leader of Youth Association Nepal, the CPN-UML affiliated youth wing, Durga Tiwari in Devdaha last year, of construction entrepreneur Sharad Kumar Gauchan in Kathmandu around six months ago and of a timber entrepreneur Basanta Poudel in Devdaha two months ago. He has also been accused of extortion.