Sankhuwasabha, March 10 :

Cadres of Unified CPN-Maoist last night thrashed two persons by taking them out of the police custody in Diding VDC in Sankhuwasabha.

They took Umesh Rai, 39, and Nokha Bahadur Rai, 36, of Diding-8 out of the custody and thrashed them after taking them to the Unified Maoists’ district office in Khandbari, according to Kawansen Rai, a district committee member of the CPN-UML.

The police had detained the duo on March 2 in connection with an attack on YCL’s district leader Dilli Bahadur Rai on February 25.

Saying that they would settle the dispute as per the direction of Unified Maoists’ district secretary Rajendra Karki, the Maoist cadres took the duo to their party office after securing their release from the custody, the victims said.

“We were forced to release the detainees after we were informed that a top district leader of the Unified Maoists will settle the dispute,” DSP Surya Prasad Upadhyaya expressed his helplessness.

The victims, who reached the Sankhuwasabha District Police Office today, told journalists and human rights activists that the Maoist activists severely beat up them for one-and-a-half hours and threatened them of life. The police later rescued the duo after a UML district member informed the police about the Maoists’ act.

Medical tests of the duo were carried out at the District Hospital. They duo have sustained serious injuries in ear and other body parts.

Umesh and Nokha Bahadur said they had thrashed YCL leader Dilli Bahadur Rai after the latter threatened them and their family members.

Human right activists in the district said the incident was a clear indication that the administration was functioning at the direction of Maoists. Human rights activist Khadga Rai said, “The victims should not be deprived of justice.” District representative of INSEC Lila Prasad Shrestha said the incident was a violation of human rights.

DSP Upadhyaya assured that they would take action against the guilty and provide justice to the victims. CDO Tulasi Prasad Gautam said action should be taken against the elements involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, Unified Maoists’ district members Kamala Sharma and Nawaraj Baraili said

they were unaware of the incident.