Three persons, who were in prison for the last three months on charges of being involved in Maoist activities, have declared that they are no longer aligned with the terrorists.

Sekhar Rijal of Mangalbare Village Development Committee (VDC), who is among them, released a press statement, declaring that though he had been working as a contact secretary in the Maoist movement, he will totally avoid such activities from now on. He reached the hard decision, because he is annoyed about the recent violent and terrorist activities of the party.

Further to this, he also said that the attitude being shown these days by the Maoists has influenced him to change his principles. Intending to avoid his previous involvement in the organisation, he has expressed desire to pass a normal life. Likewise, Khemraj Bhatarai of Danabari VDC and Lila Timilsina of Irautar VDC, through press releases, have stated that in the past they were forced to be involved in collecting donations and to take part in Maoist conventions. Beyond the feelings of their own ethics, they had been deployed to keep records about the export of wood. But now they have announced their formal abandonment of Maoist activities by issuing a press release on Thursday, since they don’t agree with barbarous activities like murdering innocent persons, kidnapping civil servants and robbing people in rural areas.

Meanwhile, a woman hailing from Soyak VDC, having been brutally tortured by Maoists, is reported to have committed suicide. Machha Devi Aacharya, ward no 6 of the Soyak VDC was found hanging in her own house. It is said that she did so because of frequent threats by the Maoists to kill her. In this way, her mind was disturbed, state local police. According to a reports, having been continuously disturbed by Maoist rebels, her husband, Yadav Acharya, alongwith his brother had already left the village and was staying at the district headquarters. Just two days before her death, two strangers identifying themselves as Maoists, had tried to rape her young daughter. When they were unsuccessful, they had threatened to rape and kill both mother and daughter next time. In connection with this matter, a peace rally was observed throughout the Ilam bazaar on behalf of Nepal Human Rights Forum on Thursday. The rally had around 500 participants including students, civil servants, teachers and guardians, all donning slogans of peace.