Cadres of UCPN (Maoist) pounced upon the cadres of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML after differences surfaced at the meeting. [break]
The dispute sparked after the NC and CPN-UML leaders disagreed with Maoist demand the Butwal Power Company should supply power unconditionally and without let or hindrance to the Kyakmi VDC, according to Ramesh Gotame, a school teacher.
Altogether five NC cadres, three UML cadres and one Maoist cadre were injured in the clash. While five of the injured are currently undergoing treatment at Waling, the district headquarters of Syangja, four others have been taken to Pokhara for further treatment. All the injured are out of danger.
Police have arrested nine Maoist cadres involved in attacking the cadres of NC and the UML. Those arrested, according to police inspector Manoj Pandey include Indra Kumar Thapa, Prem Hamal, Sher Bahadur Thapa, Man Bahadur Magar, Durga Gautam, Prem Narayan Manandhar, Biru Hamal, Yam Bahadur BK and Dilli Ram Sharma.
The local level leaders of all three parties had forgone their Dashain tika this year after they were unable to bring electricity to the VDC before Dashain as per their written commitment.
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