Media chief shot in Nepal capital

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The chairman of a Nepalese television station and satellite network has been shot dead in the capital, Kathmandu.

Jamim Shah, the head of the Space Time Network, was gunned down by two masked men on motorbikes near the French embassy in the Lazimpat district.

Mr Shah died during treatment at a nearby hospital an hour later.

His Channel Nepal TV station was banned temporarily 10 years ago after wrongly attributing anti-Nepal sentiments to a Bollywood star, sparking riots.

It reported in December 2000 that Hrithik Roshan had said he "hated Nepal and the Nepalese people". Four people died in the violence that followed and many Indian shops and businesses came under attack.

Mr Shah, a Nepali was of Kashmiri origin, was accused by the Indian government of having links to a major Indian crime syndicate, and to Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency. He denied the allegations.

At one time, he ran two newspapers that have now closed, Space Time and Space Time Today, and had a virtual monopoly on the distribution of foreign TV channels though his satellite network.

Mr Shah's driver, Mathura Man Malakar, was shot in the thigh in Sunday's incident. His condition is said to be stable.

Police said they were investigating the attack, but were not aware of the motive. They reportedly know the motorbikes' number plates.