NEPALGUNJ, Aug 18: Two young men have been attacked with sharp weapons in Raptisonari of Banke district.

On Saturday evening, some people with their faces covered, attacked the two youths with sharp weapons at a junction in Binauna, Ward No. 5 of Raptisonari Rural Municipality at around 7:30 PM.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Tul Bahadur Karki at the District Police Office, Banke, the victims are 28-year-old Sandip Bisht from Ward No. 2 of Raptisonari and 28-year-old Sulabh Malla from Prashurampur, Ward No. 7 of Baijnath Rural Municipality.

SP Karki stated that both victims are critically injured and are being treated in Lucknow, India. The police reported that Bisht has deep wounds on both wrists and Mall has a severe injury to his left abdomen.

Four individuals, including Gyanendra Raj Oli, also known as 'Gyanju,' who is the chairman of the Youth Association of Nepal (affiliated with the CPN-UML) in Raptisonari-2, have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. It has been noted that both victims are affiliated with the Tarun Dal, which is close to the Nepali Congress. The police have not yet determined the motive behind the attack. The victims reported that about 10-15 attackers were involved, and based on their identification of some of the assailants, the police have made arrests.

The Nepal Tarun Dal, Banke, has condemned the incident. In a statement, President Birendra Bahadur Shah and Secretary Binod Rijal criticized the disruption to peace and security in the district and questioned the effectiveness of police action. They have warned that if those involved are not swiftly prosecuted, the Tarun Dal will be compelled to take to the streets.