UCPN (Maoist) suspends two CC members

KATHMANDU, Sept 23: The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) has suspended two of its Central Committee (CC) members on charges of financial irregularities and abuse of power.



The party Standing Committee on Tuesday suspended central leaders Kali Bahadur Kham, commander of the Maoist People´s Liberation Army (PLA) in the fifth division, and Ram Prasad Banjade, Nawalparasi district in-charge of the Maoist party. [break]



The party suspended Kham to investigate into his alleged involvement in the looting of Chinese businessman under the pretext of selling them aphrodisiac herb Yarchagunba in a hotel in Gangabu in July, while Banjade was suspended for abusing his power while awarding various contracts in Nawalpararsi district.



“There were some grave allegations --inside and outside the party --against them. They were allegedly deviating from the proper path. So we decided to suspend them to facilitate investigation into allegations against them,” said Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma.



The party decided to take action against them upon the recommendation of the party disciplinary commission headed by senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya.



Police arrested five persons involved in looting Rs 2.6 million from some Chinese business in Gangabu in July while Kham, the main accused, has been absconding. Police has issued an arrest warrant against him. Kham was also the prime accused in the abduction, torture and subsequent killing of Koteshor-based businessmen Ram Hari Shrestha two years back.



Shrestha was abducted from his residence at Koteshwar, where Kham had rented an apartment, and taken to the Maoist Shaktikhor camp in Chitwan where he reportedly succumbed to severe torture inflicted by the combatants.



Similarly, Banjade has been accused of irregularities while procuring and handing over contracts to various individuals as the party in-charge in Nawalparasi.



The Maoist party has decided to form a powerful disciplinary commission to take action against those involved in financial irregularities and “cultural deviations” and implement the party´s code of conduct.



“The party will step up actions against the party members for any kind of irregularities,” said Maoist spokesperson Sharma.

Related story

Chairman Dahal to respond to queries of central members during...