Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker and former minister Krishna Charan Shrestha in Siraha Saturday morning.

Three assailants, who came on two motorbikes, opened fire at Shrestha from an automatic rifle at around 8 a.m. when he was out for morning walk, reports said.

The gunmen also shot and killed a local resident, Ram Chandra Mukhiya, who tried to defend Shrestha. The incident took place at ward no. 4 of Belaha VDC that lies at 8 km from the district headquarters.

Irate locals later beat two of the assailants to death immediately after they attacked the MP, according to reports. The detailed identity of the assistants who were killed in the scuffle with locals is yet to be confirmed. Police said investigation into the incident was underway and that they were yet to find out the assailants were sanctioned by somebody else.

Shrestha had gone to Siraha from Biratnagar on Friday.

RPP chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana flew to Siraha with soon after the reports of Shrestha’s killing. Addressing a function organised to pay tribute to late Shrestha in Siraha, Rana said the government had failed to provide security to lawmakers and the people in general. The home minister should immediately resign for failing to maintain law and order in the country, he said.

Shrestha’s body was airlifted to Kathmandu later in the day for final tribute.

Meanwhile, political parties have condemned the killing of the RPP lawmaker. Issuing a statement, Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba condemned the killing and demanded that the government find out those behind Shrestha’s murder.

Similarly, issuing separate statements, Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) and Nepal Sadbhwana Party led by Badri Mandal also denounced the killing and asked the government to take proper measures to maintain security in the country.