At around 11 am, two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle had shot Alam at Chainpur Chowk of Bara district along the Pathlaiya-Birgunj road while he was talking on the phone. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers, who used a motorbike with Indian number plate, had fled toward Birgunj after shooting Alam. [break]
Jagadish Ram, who was accompanying Alam at the time of incident, informed that one of the assailants approached near Alam under the pretext of shaking hands and shot him twice. The attackers had also opened fire at other leaders accompanying Alam but they were unhurt, Ram informed.
The assailants fell off the Hero Honda motorcycle while feeling the scene but none dared to stop them as they were carrying guns, according to eyewitnesses.
Alam was rushed to Birgunj-based National Medical College for initial treatment. However, he was airlifted to Kathmandu by Nepal Army chopper for further treatment. Alam is currently undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, (TUTH), Maharajganj and his condition is said to be critical.
Dr Bhagawan Koirala, Director at TUTH, informed that Alam is in critical condition as he was shot in the head. "His condition is critical as blood clot has formed in the brain. He is undergoing surgery," Dr Koirala told Republica .
According to Dinesh Bhattarai, Chief District Officer of Bara, no one has been arrested in connection with the incident. He informed that a probe team led by Ishwar Babu Karki, superintendent of police, has been formed to investigate the incident.
Alam´s youngest brother Manjur said blamed the attack on Alam´s opponents, who he said wanted to kill him as he was sure to win the elections. Alam had also contested the last CA in CPN-UML ticket but had lost.
Meanwhile, CPN-UML´s Bara district committee enforced a shutdown of Bara to protest the shooting. Offices, educational institutitions and shops remained closed on Friday.
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