Over 60 Maoist cadres armed with khukuris, rods and stones attacked the police post at around 9:30 p.m. following the arrest of Maoist cadre Tilak Paharai on Sunday afternoon based on locals´ complaint that he had hurled colors on villagers, despite the latter´s refusal to participate in the Holi festival. [break]
Police had, however, already released Paharai after warning him not to engage in such activities in the future.
Sub-Inspector Prem Thapa and Head Constable Barun Thapa were injured in the attack, according to the District Police Office.
Police suspect the attack was an act of vengeance by Maoist cadres for the arrest. “Barring this, there seems no reason for the attack,” said Inspector Raj Kumar Thing, acting chief of the police post.
The attackers also damaged police uniforms, communication sets and office furniture. There were 10 police personnel in the police post under the command of Sub-Inspector Thapa. The Kusapani village is located nine miles west of the district headquarters.
The police personnel stood mute spectators to the attack for fear that any retaliation against the Maoists could turn the situation ugly.
“Had we fired a shot, it would have seemed that the mistake was police´s,” said Thing. “That´s why police just tried to persuade the attackers to stop.”
Even an ambulance that arrived in the village from the district headquarters at midnight to treat the injured cops was stopped along the way by the Maoists. They forced the ambulance to stop some 500 meters away from the police post. They later allowed the ambulance to move after locals´ request.
The injured cops were taken to Nepalgunj after preliminary treatment at Dailekh hospital.
A team of 25 policemen under the command of Inspector Nabin Chhetri has been sent to the police post, according to District Police Office.
But no one has been arrested in this connection so far, though about four people were interrogated and released.
The UCPN (Maoist) has denied any involvement in the incident.
“We have heard about the incident. Our cadres were not involved in it,” said Lachhiram Adhikari, district committee member of the party.
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