Supreme Court justice shot dead

Supreme Court justice Rana Bahadur Bam, who was shot by motorcycle-borne assailants at Shankhamul, Lalitpur, Thursday morning, died while undergoing treatment at Norvic Hospital, Thapathali, in the afternoon.
Director of Norvic Hospital, Dr Bharat Rawal who was also involved in treatment, confirmed his death. Masked assailants had opened fire at Justice Bam and his security guard Mahesh Giri at around 11:15 am. Both Bam and Khanal were inside the car and were heading to office.

Justice Bam received four bullets - one each in the neck, hand, chin and chest - and Giri was shot in the chest. Both were rushed to Norvic Hospital at Thapathali.

Family sources said the shooters must have followed him from nearly Bangalamukhi temple he visited in the morning. They said he used to go to the temple every Thursday.

Police are yet to identify the assailants and their motive behind the attack.

Meanwhile police said they have recovered a Pulsar motorcycle used by the assailants. The police also said massive manhunt has been launched in Kathmandu Valley to track down the assailants.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi had visited the hospital when Bam was undergoing treatment.

PM Bhattarai told reporters at the hospital premises that he had ordered the security officials to take every possible step to track down those behind the attack.
Meanwhile,
The Nepal Police has formed a team headed by Additional Inspector General (AIG) Kuber Rana to investigate the murder of Supreme Court justice Rana Bahadur Bam.
Police headquarters announced the probe team following death of Bam during treatment at Norvic Hospital. He was shot four times by motorcycle-borne masked assailants at Sankhamul, Lalitpur, at around 11:15 am. He was shot inside his car.

The government is also expected to announce a high-level judicial probe commission. Earlier, speaking to reporters at Norvic Hospital, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said the government would take every possible step to track down the criminals and bring them to justice.