Maoist students' attack leaves 5 injured, Mahendranagar tense

MAHENDRANAGAR, March 7: Student activists of Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) have attacked students belonging to four other student unions, alleging that the latter chanted anti-government slogans. At least five students are injured in the ANNISU-R attack. [break]



Of the injured, Santosh Nepali, who is a central member of All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), a sister organization of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist and Leninist), is seriously injured. He is taken to Bareli, India, for treatment.



Others injured in the incident include assistant secretary of Nepal Students Union (NSU), sister organization of the main opposition Nepali Congress, Prakash Chand, and Rajendra Kalauni. All the four injured are currently undergoing treatment at Mahakali Zonal Hospital.



The students of ANNISU-R, a sister organization of ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), had attacked them when they were on their way to attend a rally jointly organized by seven parties. Far-Western Regional Vice President of NSU Chakra Mahat said that the Maoist-affiliated students attacked them alleging that they chanted anti-government slogans.



Prior to this, civil society had asked all political parties to hold joint rallies to normalize the troubled situation in Mahendranagar. However, the ANNISU-R´s attack against its rival students unions has further deteriorated the situation in the town.



The agitating students have burnt down a jeep (Me 1 Jha 53) belonging to District Development Committee, Kanchanpur.



Meanwhile, agitating Tharu Kalayankarini Sabha has decided to allow stranded vehicles to go to their destinations until 5 am Sunday starting Saturday evening. The decision comes after thousands of passengers, who were left in the lurch for the past five days in Mahendranagar, staged demonstration on Saturday, demanding that they be allowed to go homes unhindered.



Mahendranagar has remained closed for the past six days as the students staged demonstration demanding that the government establish Far Western University in Mahendranagar. The protest has left normal life greatly paralyzed in Mahendranagar and its surrounding areas.



Journalist Rajendra Bhatta, who was injured during the protest, has been taken to India for treatment. He serves with Annapurna Post daily. Bhatta has sustained serious injuries on his head due to police action three days ago.

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