Unidentified gunmen on a motorbike bike drove by Bam’s car (Ba 8 Cha 9853) nearby the crematory at UN Park and shot him and his body guard several times at around 11:05 this morning, Inspector General of Police Rabindra Pratap Shah, who reached the incident site immediately after the incident, said.

Bam was returning after offering prayers at Bangalamukhi temple. Bam, who sustained multiple bullets in the attack, and his body guard were rushed to the hospital after what appeared to be a premeditated attack.
 

Executive Director at Norvic Hospital, Dr. Bharat Rawat, confirmed that critically Bam succumbed to his injuries. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai who reached the hospital to take stock of Bam's health condition informed about Bam’s death.
 

Bam sustained four shots in his chin, neck, chest and hand while his bodyguard Giri was also shot in his neck.
 

Pamphlets of a previously unknown group known as Nepalbad Party were recovered from the scene. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.
 

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Chief Justice Khila Raj Regmi also reached the hospital. Minister Gachhadar said that police has arrested the motorcycle used in the shooting but has refused to divulge further information.
 

Police have beefed up security at major junctions and entry points of the Valley.

Bam had been barred from hearing cases after he was charged with misconduct while releasing three notorious criminals convicted of abduction on a low bail.
 

Few months after their release, the same criminals abducted Dr. Bhaktaman Shrestha, of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Chitwan. One of the criminals had conceded that they had paid a hefty amount to bribe the judges, including Bam for their release.
 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and DPM Gachhadar expressed sadness over the killing of Justice Bam and expressed their commitment to hunt down the culprits. They said they would become serious about the security of legal professionals. PM Bhattarai has directed the home minister and home secretary to initiate investigation into the incident and bring the guilty to justice.
 

PM has also directed the Home Ministry to beef up the security to avert such incidents in the coming days.
 

Probe panel formed

The Home Ministry has formed a probe panel headed by AIG Kumbar Singh Rana to look into the murder.