Himalayan News Service

Nuwakot, May 26

Eighteen more Maoists involved in terrorism and destructive activities have been placed under house arrest.

District Administration Office (DAO) decided to confine them to house arrest on Friday after the administration made an investigation into their activities. Friday was the last day of the six-month emergency period and the Maoists were taken under the pretext of house arrest by Terrorism and Destructive Activities Control Punishment Act 2058. It is the second time that DAO has taken such a decision on the same basis after the act was implemented. Previously, seven other Maoists had been taken under house arrest in accordance with the same Act.

Those declared arrested under the act are Baikuntha Acharya, Janak Adhikari, Arjun Pokhrel, Lal Singh Tamang, Bhumlal Shrestha, Rabi Gautam, Krishna Bahadur Nepali, Lalmaya Ghale, Rajendra Dhakal and Indra Bahadur Thapa. Similarly, Man Bahadur B K, Bishnu Prasad Lamichhane, Tek Bahadur B K, Ratna Bahadur Tamang, Bir Bahadur Ghale, Mong Lama and Dar Lama. They are being given inferior grade food, states DAO.

The prison situated at the top of the mountain, a short distance from the district headquarter had already been emptied a few months ago due to security reasons. The prisoners were transferred to Kathmandu, since the prison in Nuwakot district was not well enough established.

Until now, the Maoists recently taken under house arrest have been kept in the district police office. Even though they have remained there during the last few days, they will be shifted to a temporary prison, which is still under construction in district headquarter Bidur. “As soon as the construction of the prison is finished, the arrested Maoists will be put there,” says Suresh Basnet, deputy superintendent of police.

Meanwhile Maoists set ablaze a school at Tehrathum. A group of Maoist terrorists set fire to Amar Lower Secondary School (ALSS) situated at ward no 4 of Yoyakjung Village Development Committee (VDC). The school, located in a place 3 hours walking distance from the district headquarter was set ablaze on Friday evening at 8 o’ clock by the Maoists. A group of about 25 Maoists went there and destroyed the newly constructed building of the school, including the office room in which many hundreds of thousands of rupees were stored, said Parshu Dahal, a teacher of the school.

In addition to this, many important books and documents, stationery goods, furniture and other educational materials were completely destroyed. They also ruined the two buildings, so students of the school are now deprived of attending class. Immediately after they reached the school, they spread kerosene all over the ground then set fire to the school building.

Meanwhile, talking to The Himalayan Times secretary of CPN-UML Tehrathum-Kathmandu Liaison Forum said that such activities, which are frequently undertaken by Maoists, are making them extremely unpopular among local people. By destroying the infrastructure of development and schools as well other senseless and malicious undertakings, they are not only being criticized by local people, but are also creating the wrong impression about the principles and ideals of Mao Tsedung.