According to local authorities, two policemen and three CPN-Maoist cadres were injured in the clash that occured at Jahare in eastern Surkhet. The police fired four tear gas shells to disperse the Maoist cadres. [break]
Likewise, police have arrested nine Maoist cadres, including Bharat Bam, central member of the CPN-Maoist, on the charge of trying to obstruct the distribution of citizenship certificates and collection of voters´ names.
Chief District Officer Pursottam Kuwar said the clash occured after the police tried to chase away Maoist cadres obstructing locals from entering the service camp at Jahare for registering their names in the voters´ list and collecting their citizenship papers.
The agitating cadres arrived at the service camp before its inauguration and tried to obstruct the process.
The DAO set up the service camp at Jahare for people from some 13 VDCs in the eastern part of the district. “The Maoist cadrers had earlier asked the DAO to cancel the process. But that was not possible as the government had already decided to proceed with it. So, police had no option but to retaliate,” said CDO Kuwar.
The clash, which erupted at around 10 a.m., continued for three hours, injuring Man Bahadur Buda Chettri and Naresh Acharya of the Armed Police Force, informed the DAO.
Similarly, Sahabir Mahar, Tek Bahadur Tiruwa and Ram Bahadur B.K, district level cadres of the CPN-Maoist, were also injured, informed the party. All the injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Meanwhile, police have arrested CPN-Maoist cadres J.B. Sunuwar, Tulsi Poudel, Som Bahadur Rana, Khagendra Buda, Top Bahadur Chalaune, Dev Bahadur Chalaune, Kul Bahadur Pariyar and Purna Bahadur Pariya as well as Bharat Bam for attempting to obstruct the integrated mobile service camp.
CDO Kumar said the arrested will be released after consultations with the police.
“More than 100 cadres, who had assembled at the mobile camp, were chanting slogans against the government. As they tried to capture the camp, police used force to disperse them,” said Bhim Prasad Poudel, an eyewitness who had come to register his name in the voters´ list.
The agitating party has announced a general strike on Thursday in protest against police “suppression”.
“If the arrested cadres are not released instantly, we will go for an indefinite strike,” warned Prasanta Arshi, district secretary of the CPN-Maoist, in a press release Wednesday evening.
“We just intended to stop the voter registration process but the police used force against our peaceful protest,” he claimed.
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