KATHMANDU, Oct 8: In a rather shocking turn of event, CPN-UML Politburo Member Balkrishna Dhungel has died, allegedly after falling in the bathroom of his residence in Gothatar, Kathmandu.

Dhungel was home alone as all other members of the family had gone to Bardibas. 

Now UML Okhaldhunga leaders and workers and family members have gathered at his residence.

Dhungel had decided to stay in the UML after the split of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center).

Dhungel was elected a member to the first Constituent Assembly from the Maoist Center from Okhaldhunga Constituency No.2.

Dhungel had a controversial and criminal past. He had to serve jail in connection with a murder case. 

Dhungel was arrested for the 1998 murder of Ujjan Kumar Shrestha of Okhaldhunga. The Okhaldhunga District Court in 2004 had convicted Dhungel of the murder of Shrestha and sentenced him to life imprisonment. 

However, President Bidya Devi Bhandari, amid widespread protests by civil society leaders and human rights activists, had granted amnesty to 816 jailbirds including Dhungel marking the Republic Day in 2018.

 
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