Maoist cadres throng capital; six held with arms

KATHMANDU, April 29: Maoists from various districts continued to throng the capital on Wednesday for their May 1 demonstration and subsequent indefinite general strike. Police said around 20,000 Maoists have been entering into the capital daily since Tuesday. They have been told not to leave the capital until the government is toppled and a "people´s constitution" is drafted.

The Maoist cadres from the districts are sheltering in private schools, hotels and guest houses and private houses in the capital. [break]

According to the police, the Maoists have been choosing party palaces and under-construction shopping malls as their first priority to lodge the cadres. Around 10 cadres are staying in each private house while 500 to 3,000 are sheltering in each party palace and under-construction buildings. They are also putting up tents on riverbanks.

According to sources, the party has issued a diktat to all guesthouses in the valley to accommodate 15 to 25 cadres from April 30. Maoists have threatened most guesthouse operators over the phone to shelter their cadres.

Maoists have already placed their cadres in private houses at various places including Sano Bharyang, Balaju, Godhunga, Chhetrapati, Manmaiju and Dhobichaur. In each house, five to 10 Maoists are staying.

Against their public commitments, Maoists are also taking shelter in various private schools. Thousands of Maoists have lodged themselves in Juntara Boarding School, Universal Academy, Platina College, Universal Boarding School and Laboratory School.

Police vacated the Maoists from Bijaya Memorial Higher Secondary School, Kanya School, and Trinity College. Maoists had also planned to shelter their cadres in Tri-Chandra, Saraswati, Public Youth and Minbhawan campuses. But they retreated after the police warned of using force.

However, police vacated the Maoists from Bijaya Memorial Higher Secondary School, Kanya School, and Trinity College. Maoists had also planned to shelter their cadres in Tri-Chandra, Saraswati, Public Youth and Minbhawan campuses. But they retreated after the police warned of using force.

Besides, the Maoists are also staying in Balaju industrial area, Gongabu Buspark, Pashupati precincts and the under-construction mall at Sundhara.

Six armed Maoists arrested

Police arrested six Maoists, including two combatants, armed with sharp weapons from Nayabazaar, Mudkhu and Maitidevi.

Police nabbed three Maoists armed with swords from Nayabazaar in the evening. The arrested are Manoj Magar, 17, from Kavre, and Pratik Rai, 16, and Rajan Rai, 20, from Ilam.

Similarly, Nirmal Thapa from Maitidevi was arrested Wednesday morning. Likewise, police arrested Mukunda KC, 27, and Krishna Bahadur Tamang, 25 of Smriti Brigrade with khukuris.

According to party sources, the demonstrations will be controlled by the Young Communist League (YCL) volunteers who have been grouped in a military style: squad, company, brigade and division. The party has trained over 15,000 YCL activists for the purpose.

Meanwhile, issuing a statement, Home Ministry has asked all concerned to provide police and the ministry with the information about the capture of schools, factories, hotels, lodges, private buildings and vehicles as well as extortion in the name of Maoist demonstrations.