CPN-UML affiliated Youth Association Nepal (YAN) and All Nepal National Free Students´ Union (ANNIFSU) have enforced shutdown in Rupandehi for the second consecutive day on Sunday in protest of death of YAN's leader and entrepreneur Basanta Poudel. Poudel, 40, was shot dead at his furniture factory Dhekabar of Devdaha Municipality in Rupandehi district on Friday by two unknown assailants who fired multiple shots at him at around 11am. The motorcycle-borne duo fired two shots—in his chest and head. He was pronounced dead at the Butwal-based Lumbini Zonal Hospital. YAN and ANNIFSU called an indefinite shutdown from Saturday demanding a thorough investigation into the murder and see if the crime was politically motivated. Political parties, business associations and civil society have also expressed their solidarity in the protest while locals in Devdaha joined the protest demanding security. Family members and relatives have refused to own the body until the arrest of the culprits. Protesters blame police administration for the death of Poudel, which came around a year after the murder of another UML leader Durga Tiwari in the district. Meanwhile, the strike has forced the travelers to be at the receiving end as transportation has been halted along the East West Highway. The protestors have also barred the vehicles from plying the inner city roads. Market areas and industries have also remained closed. Police had escorted vehicles carrying children and elderly out of Rupandehi on Saturday night. Repeated talks between police and protestors failed to seek a way-out after the protestors remained firmed on their stance of continuing the shutdown until the perpetrators were arrested. युवा व्यवसायी बसन्त पौडेलको हत्याको विरोधमा आज दोश्रो दिन पनि रुपन्देही बन्द हुँदा जनजीवन प्रभावित बनेको छ । युवा संघ तथा अनेरास्ववीयु रुपन्देहीले हत्यामा संलग्नलाई तत्काल पक्राउ र कारबाहीको माग गर्दै बन्द आह्वान गरेको हो । बन्दका कारण पूर्वपश्चिम राजमार्ग तथा उत्तरदक्षिण सिद्धार्थ राजमार्ग ठप्प छ । बन्दकर्ताले चोक चोकमा बसेर अवरोध गरेपछि भित्री सडकमा पनि सवारीका साधन चलेका छैनन् । बजार पसल तथा औद्योगिक प्रतिष्ठान समेत खुलेका छैनन् । जिल्लामा क्रियाशिल राजनीतिक दल, व्यवसायीक संघसस्था र नागरिक समाजले समेत हत्याको बिरोधमा गरिएको बन्दमा ऐक्यवद्धता जनाएका छन् । दोषीलाई पक्राउ नगर्दासम्म शव नबुझ्ने भन्दै पौडेलको शव समेत आफन्तले लुम्बिनी अञ्चल अस्पताल बुटवलमै छोडेका छन् । हत्यामा संलग्नलाई पक्राउ नगर्दासम्म बन्द जारी राख्ने अनेरास्ववीयु रुपन्देहीका अध्यक्ष बालकृष्ण पाण्डेले बताउनुभयो । व्यवसायी पौडेलको शुक्रबार बिहान करिब सवा ११ बजे देवदह २ ढेकाबारमा आफ्नै फर्निचर उद्योगमा बसिरहेको बेला गोली हानी हत्या भएको थियो ।