Pundit Narayan Pokhrel, I think, was a classmate of Babu Ram Bhattarai. Moreover, he was known for his charitable works, and, here is the crux folks, his opposition of king Gyanendra's puppet Bharat Keshari Singh who hijacked Hindu agenda and aligned himself with Indian Hindu leaders like Singhal and Nepali Hindu king. Narayan Pokhrel also supported multiparty democracy and opposed king's move of overthrowing the government. I seriously doubt it was the Maoists' work. Let's see what the investigation uncovers. May his soul rest in peace. Whoever killed him is a coward, a monster and deserves no less cruel death.