KATHMANDU: A regional Nepalese Sikh leader was shot dead March 22 by a man authorities suspect of being a Sikh who resented his refusal to aid India radicals reported here Thursday.
The Nepali language daily Kartapur reported that the gunman had shot Asha Singh at point blank range three times. He was rushed to the local hospital in Birgunj on the Nepal- India border where he was pronounced dead The incident took place at 7:30 Tues- day evening when Asha Singh was chatting with friends at a beverage shop in Birgunj where Asha Singh was a prosperous shipping company owner.
Police apprehended a suspect identified as Bokha Singh from Indias Jammu and Kashmir state. A 7 65 mm semi-automatic Hungarian pistol allegedly was recovered from Bokha Singh who however denied firing any shots at Acha Singh.
According to the newspaper Asha Singh had opposed giving any kind of help to Sikh militants crossing over to Nepal through the open Nepal-India border.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 1, 1994
