The locals took to the streets following a Maoist shutdown in the district. Maoists called the shutdown in the district all of a sudden demanding release of their cadres arrested by the police for mercilessly attacking three persons including Nepali Congress’ district leader Ram Chandra Ayr on Friday. [break]
Local youths and traders carrying batons and shouting slogans against the Maoists made round of the district headquarters.
The locals came out on the streets after the Maoists started forcing closure of shops and transportation from early in the morning.
While enforcing their banda, the Maoists attacked a local teacher Kamal Rawal, fueling the already tense situation. The locals also encircled the Maoists’ district office for a while. They encircled the district police office as well after police tried to intervene in the protests.
Secretary of Dadeldhura Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dipak Bohara said the Maoists have continued with their war-era atrocities against the entrepreneurs and locals, forcing the locals to take to the streets against them.
Nepali Congress district secretary Lokraj Bhatta said locals took to the streets on their own after Maoists announced the shutdown even though it was the Maoists who were at fault by attacking political cadres with an intention to kill them.
The banda enforced by the Maoists, a day before their nationwide banda, left thousands of passengers including those who were returning home from India to celebrate the new year stranded.
Meanwhile, Maoist district secretary Mansingh Mal said the banda was the result of the failure of local administration and police. He refused to comment on the locals’ rally against the Maoists.
The district has remained tense after a group of Maoists attacked NC leader Ayr in Ajayameru VDC on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress, Dadeldhura, claimed that Maoists attacked Ayr with an intention of taking his life.
NC general convention member Tarak Budha said preliminary investigations suggested that the attack was executed in a pre-planned manner at the direction of district level Maoist leaders.
Maoists had accused Ayr of trying to disrupt their program in the village a day before he was attacked. Budha said Ayr was in the district headquarters on the day the Maoists claimed Ayr tried to disrupt their program.
Police refused to comment on the incident and said investigation was on. DSP Arjun Chand said investigation has not moved forward after the incident was given political color. He said a police team has been dispatched to the village.
A Maoist source said Ayr was on the hit list of the Maoists and the attack was preplanned. The source said all the arrested Maoist cadres are in responsible position of the party and the attack was executed as per the policy of the party. The source said 20 more leaders of different political parties in the district are on the Maoists´ hit list and they could be attacked any time.
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