Dhading, May 8

A clash broke out between cadres of rival political parties during election campaigning in Gajuri of Dhading today.

Four persons were injured when a clash broke out between the cadres of CPN-MC and CPN-UML at Chainpur in Gajuri Rural Municipality.

Police said UML cadres Milan Baral and Surendra Baral and Maoist cadres Mayanath Adhikari and Narayan Adhikari were injured in the confrontation. While the injured Maoist men have been sent to the Capital for treatment, the injured UML cadres are being treated at a local health facility.

Maoist cadre Devraj Adhikari blamed UML cadres for the clash. “It was our door-to-door campaign for the polls and we were busy talking to the locals when some UML cadres accosted us trying to disturb our campaign,” he said, while UML cadre Jiban Baral blamed the incident on the Maoist cadres. “It was them who tried to disturb our campaign, hence the incident,” he said.

The local administration has said it has deployed an APF team to the village and is in communication with the local leaders of both parties in order to prevent any escalation of violence.