Damak, March 18:

Cadres of the pro-Maoist Young Communist League have begun night patrol in the main urban centres here from yesterday.

Armed with home-made weapons, the YCL cadres conduct night patrol in several areas of Damak, Birtamod, Bhadrapur and Mechinagar municipalities.

The YCL Jhapa vice chairman Hikmat said: “The YCL activists, armed with khukuris and other home made weapons, will patrol in the night to provide security to the people.”

“This will control criminal activities and help police to maintain law and order. The patrolling will also control any untoward incidents by royalists,” he said.

Hikmat said they had discussed with the police and the local administration before launching night patrol.

Police, however, said no discussion was held with YCL members regarding this issue and no agreement has been reached on the issue.

Inspector Narayan Prasad Chimoriya at the Damak area police office (APO) said: “Police has not received any information regarding this issue. Such patrolling is against the law.”

The YCL six-number area coordinator, Prasanta said altogether 1500 YCL activists have been mobilised for patrolling.

Maoists thwart MJF press meet

Bhairahawa: The Maoists thwarted a press meet scheduled to be organised by the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) here on Sunday. The Maoist cadres cordoned off the Hotel Pawan International prior to the journalists arrival and thwarted the programme.

The Maoists also chased away MJF central vice chairman Kishor Biswas and activists of the Rupandehi MJF to the Gautam Buddha Airport, eyewitnesses said. “We were going to inform the journalists about our peaceful sit-in programme at the Birgunj Customs Office scheduled to be organised from tomorrow. However, the Maoists obstructed the press meet,” said MJF leader Chandrika Yadav. The Maoists also threatened to take our lives, he said.

The Maoist Rupandehi district in-charge, Bamdev Chhetri, said: “We intervened in the programme when the royalists were going to organise the meeting in the name of the MJF.” — HNS