Maoists to retaliate if attacked

(Updated at 2028 NST 0243 GMT)

Locals hold protest rally in various places of the Kathmandu Valley; clash with Maoists

Birgunj normal after local clash with Maoist; no curfew

Tarun Dal clashes with Maoists in Parbat

Locals beat up Maoists in Syanja

Market opens in Tarahara, Sunsari

Drizzle affects Maoist demonstrations

Curfew in Parbat, Dhankuta, Kushma

KATHMANDU, May 6: A meeting of the office-bearers of the Unified CPN (Maoist) on Thursday decided to ‘retaliate against those who attack them’.

“We will not attack but retaliate if attacked,” spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said after the meeting.[break]

Sharma called the anti-Maoist rallies and protest actions carried out by the sister organizations of the parties in the government.

The meeting was held after defiance of nationwide indefinite strike called the Maoist grew across the country on Thursday.

Police has used tear-gas shells in many places including Budhanilkantha of capital, Birgunj and Parbat. According to reports, Parsa District Administration Office has imposed curfew from 1 p.m.

THE KATHMANDU VALLEY

Locals in Basundhara, Budhanilkantha, Golfutar, Jorpati, Kapan and Pulchowk area in the capital staged demonstration against the strike.

At Budhanilkantha, police fired at least four shells of tear-gas to disperse people after locals rallying against the strike pelted stones at them for preventing them from moving forward.

Police stopped locals’ rally and also a rally by the Maoist supporters to prevent confrontations. A high number was policemen were deployed in the area after locals rallied asking businessmen to open their outlets.

At Jorpati, half a dozen were injured after the local businessmen clashed with Maoists. The Maoists accused locals of pelting stones at their rally while the locals claimed they clashed after the Maoists tried to vandalize their business outlets which were open.

Locals also rallied against the strike at Pulchowk and briefly clashed with the Maoist supporters.

BIRGUNJ, PARSA

Birgunj remained tense throughout Thursday after the cadres of Hindu Youth Association accompanied by locals retaliated against the indefinite Maoist general strike, our correspondent Upendra Lamichhane.

The situation turned violent after hundreds of people wielding sticks and chanting Hindu slogans encircled the Maoists camping at Ghantaghar for nearly an hour from 11 am before the police intervention thwarted any untoward incident.

Nearly 20 Maoist cadres including CA members Prabhu Sah and Shiva Chandra Kushwaha and Maoists´ Bhojpura State Committee Secretary Anjana Bishankhe were injured in police action. They are being treated in Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital.

While being taken to hospital, Sah alleged that it was a planned attack of the police on the Maoists.

However, police said they were compelled to use force to contain violence. "There would have been big catastrophe had we failed to disperse the mobs," said SP Rajendra Man Shrestha, chief of Parsa District Police Office.

Maoists fled the Ghantaghar area where the Maoists had been camping for the past five days. Police have been deployed in the area after the Hindu activists and locals vandalized and torched the tents there.

Meanwhile, Maoists claimed at least 60 Maoist protesters were injured in police action at Ghadiharwa Pokhari area. Issuing a press statement, the Maoists said the agitating Hindu group vandalized and burnt two vehicles -- one provided by CA member Sah and a motorcycle -- which were being used to carry food for the protesters.

The statement said the injured including Sah, Bishankhe and ANNISU-R central secretary Nisha Shah were being brought to Kathmandu for treatment.

How did the tension flare up?

Tension began after the agitating Maoist cadres and local engaged in clashes in Ghadiharwa bazar while the former were forcefully shutting down businesses in the morning. At least two Maoist cadres were injured when police intervened.

The Hindu Youth Association tried to cash in the anger of locals and a mob led by the group vandalized and torched Maoist tents and two vehicles used by the Maoists in Town Hall area.

The mob marched round the market before reaching Ghantaghar area at 10 am. The situation was almost beyond control when the mob surrounded the Maoists there. Police averted any big accident after they dispersed the mob by using tear gas shells.

Though the administration planned to enforce curfew, the plan was shelved after the situation came under control. "Curfew can be imposed any time depending on situation," SP Shrestha said.

POKHARA, KASKI

Incessant drizzle in Pokhara and surrounding areas affected Maoist demonstrations on Thursday.

Maoist supporters could not come to the streets due to the drizzle. Instead, they stood on the roadsides under the protection of umbrellas.

Local Maoist leader Ramji Baral said the drizzle affeted their demonstration plans.

DHADING

In Dhading district, the farmers dumped the vegetables on the highway in protest of the strike. They said they could not sell the vegetables due to the strike.

SUNSARI

Locals in Tarhara in Sunsari district defied the ongoing Maoist strike and opened their shops and establishments. The Maoist cadres who came to shut the shops in Tarhara bazar were forced to retreat.

Locals constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Maniram Shrestha to open the make. Mahendra Giri, a local, said that the market was opened as the general strike was deemed useless.

Also the weekly Hat market was also organized on Thursday.

Similar defiance has been reported from Bardiya where the locals opposed the Maoists diktat to remain shut. News 24 TV channel reported that many shops have reopened and security personnel are present there to prevent any clash.

Meanwhile, 12 student organizations are holding a meeting to discuss ways to end the Maoist strike of educational institutions. The meeting is being held at the office of the ANNFSU (Sixth) in the capital.

PARBAT

Locals in Parbat vandalized the party office of UCPN (Maoist) at Kushma Bazar Thursday protesting against the beating up of Nepali Congress-affiliated Tarun Dal leader Bishnu Pokharel at Shivalaya VDC.

Police used a few tear gas cells to bring the situation under control.

At least 12 YCL and two Tarun Dal cadres were injured in the ensuing clash.

The district administration has imposed a curfew from 8 pm Thursday to 4 am Friday at the district headquarters Kushma and surrounding areas.

HUMLA

The district administration in Humla clamped curfew from 8 pm Thursday to 6 am Friday at the district headquarters in Simikot after Nepali Congress and UML cadres clashed with Maoists throughout Thursday afternoon.

SYANGJA

Putalibazar and Waling municipality area in Syangja district remained tense after the locals retaliated with the Maoist protesters.

Youth Force cadres had allegedly beaten up the Maoist cadres who were in two jeeps at Rambachchha area of Waling Municipality-8. Altogether three Maoist cadres are left injured.

MYAGDI

Maoist activists vandalized Women Development Office, Department of Livestock Services and District Forest Office on the charge of defying the Maoist strike.

LAMJUNG

Altogether seven persons including five Maoist cadres, one NC cadre and a policeman were injured during a clash between Maoists protestors and those opposed to the strike.

The clash took place at the district headquarters, Besisahar.

JANAKPUR

Cadres of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic and Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party organized a demonstration at Janakpur Bazar Thursday afternoon asking locals to open their businesses.

There were incidents of clashes with the agitating Maoists.

RAJBIRAJ

Tension arose between businessmen and the Maoist protestors at Rabiraj Bazar Thursday after the businessmen opened their shops and businesses. At least two persons were injured in the clash that ensued after the Maoists protested the move of the businessmen.