Dhangadi, October 5

Two days ahead of former Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai’s slated visit to Kailali to participate in a programme, Kailali district administration cautioned him against visiting the district.

After reports were published in newspapers about the leader’s scheduled participation in a Tharuhat/Tharuwan Struggle Committee programme in Dhangadi on Wednesday, the administration here through the Ministry of Home Affairs made the appeal to him.

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“At a time when the public here are pointing their fingers at Madhesi leaders and blaming them of provoking the agitators and causing the Tikapur tragedy, it’s not good for him to come here to participate in any Tharuhat or other programme,” reasoned Kailali Chief District Officer Mohan Chapagain, adding that a meeting of the district security committee took the decision in order to avoid any untoward incident that his visit and participation in the programme could spark.

Meanwhile, intact far-west agitation struggle committee that has been lobbying for undivided far-west region also made the appeal to the former prime minister citing the situation.

“We’re concerned about not letting the situation go worse, hence we suggested that he cancel his visit to the district to participate in the planned programme,” said committee coordinator Gopal Deuba, warning they will be compelled to take necessary measures if he does not do their bidding. The committee has further called the agitating side not to take any risk by inviting any leader who could add fuel to the fire.

Earlier, eight security personnel including a senior police officer and a two-year-old child were killed in a clash between Tharuhat/Tharuwan and police in Tikapur on August 24. In the wake of the incident, the local administration had clamped a curfew in Tikapur area and Dhangadi for over one month.