Khadka, who had left home for morning walk at 4 am on Thursday, was hit by a bus. [break]He, later, succumbed to injuries while being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of BP Memorial Hospital, Dharan.
The relatives, who have been protesting the death, vandalized the bus, shutdown shops and clashed briefly with the police. The angry demonstrators also blockaded the road for half an hour.
The Kathmandu-bound bus - Na 3 Kha 8491 - hit Khadka at Karmangachi Chowk, Bokse, Kul Prasad Chaudhari, inspector, District Police, said. The deceased´s relatives called the shutdown of Gaighat at 1.30 pm protesting the incident.
Prakash Khadka, a close relative of the deceased, said they had called the closure after the police failed to arrest Biru Bhujel, the bus conductor, within 24 hours of the incident. Bhujel was driving the bus in the driver´s absence, the relatives claimed.
“The police had assured us that they would nab Bhujel by Thursday evening but have not been able to do so until 10 am today,” Prakash said.
The next of kin said they would not withdraw the protest until the police brought the culprit to books.
Bhujel is still at large, according to Inspector Chaudhari. “The search for the culprit is on; we´ve dispatched police from Area Police Office, Jaljale, Police Post, Lalpatta and District Police,” he added.
Khadka, who was studying in a college in Kathmandu, had gone home to celebrate Dashain and was preparing to return to Kathmandu on Thursday, family sources said.
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