Birgunj, November 14

United Democratic Madhehsi Front cadres today morning set CPN-UML Parsa party office on fire in Ramgadhawa, Birgunj.

They torched the UML party office accusing it of hatching conspiracy against Madhes agitation and trying to defame their protest. UML had scheduled a tea reception at the party office today, but after the arson the programme was cancelled.

UDMF cadres alleged that some local leaders and UML lawmakers elected from the district had staged the farce of a tea party to foil the Madhes agitation. After the incident, UDMF cadres burned tyres in front of the UML party office and staged a demonstration. They dumped chairs from the office into the Sirsiya River.

Yesterday, UDMF had urged agitators to retaliate against the UML as the party had deployed its party men against the ongoing agitation in Tarai.

The statement accused the UML of deploying spies to foil the agitation. The front had urged a fight against UML as it had conspired to kill 48 people and injure hundreds of thousands in the prolonged protest.

UDMF cadres torched and vandalised one dozen trucks in the last three days. They set a truck on fire at Gandak Bahuari Chowk along the Birgunj-Kalaiya road section yesterday night. They vandalised five trucks.

They also torched and vandalised trucks en route to Kathmandu. The trucks had loaded sugar from Reliance Sugar Mills at Prasauni of Bara. The front part of one of the torched trucks was completely damaged while the other five trucks suffered nominal damage.

After agitators torched and vandalised trucks, locals looted sacks of sugar. Police personnel had to fire in the air to disperse the mob.

Likewise, agitators vandalised and torched one truck on Thursday night and three trucks on Wednesday night at different places of Birgunj.

The protesters had resorted to arson and vandalism after police started escorting the trucks to the Capital from Birgunj dry port. “An investigation is on into the arson and vandalism”, said Parsa police.

Arson condemned

KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML on Saturday condemned the arson attack on its party office in Birgunj.

The party said in press release its attention had been drawn to the arson carried out by people associated with the United Democratic Madhesi Front cadres.

The party said the attack was nothing else but a criminal act and the government should take action against the culprits immediately.

UML also urged the agitating forces to protest peacefully and not to resort to such criminal acts.