According to police, the clash ensued after local yarsagumba collectors and traders refused to pay extortion money to the Maoists. Bajhang’s YCL cadre Prayagraj Bhatta was seriously injured in the clash, while the other injured Maoist cadres are yet to be identified. [break]
Six locals including former YCL cadre Devendra Singh Dhami of Khandeshwari VDC-8 were injured after being attacked by the YCL cadres. All the injured are being treated at the local health post.
Maoists and local traders have long been at odds as the former have always been extorting from the latter.
Traders here have been deducting the amount the YCL collects from them from the price they need to pay to the yarsagumba collectors. The collectors have been protesting against the Maoists every year alleging that they have been suffering loss in yarsagumba sales because of the YCL.
The clash on Thursday was also over the very issue.
Maoists are said to have installed barricades at Khandeshwari and Ghunsa VDCs to extract money from yarsagumba traders.
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