Deusi-bhailo clash shuts Palpa police post
Palpa, November 1:
The Dovan-based police post has remained shut after a clash between deusi-bhailo revellers and the police on Thursday.
Accusing the police of not booking persons involved in the beating of their friends, some cadres of the CPN-Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League allegedly vandalised the police post yesterday and mistreated police personnel.
Speaking at a corner meeting, local leaders of the CPN-Maoist had threatened to vandalise the police post if the guilty were not arrested by 10 am today.
“Blaming the police for not arresting the guilty, a mob began attacking the police post. Fearing for life, we ran away,” said a policeman.
Denying the involvement of his party in the incident, Maoist district in-charge Kshitiz said, “A mob vandalised the police post. We attempted to prevent the incident, to no avail.”
“It’s ridiculous to blame the YCL for the incident. This is conspiracy against the CPN-Maoist,” said he. Additional number of security personnel have been sent to the area after the incident.
The police said they have detained Rupak Shrestha, Amar Thapa, Amrit Thapa, Meen Bahadur Shrestha, Hem Lal Subedi, Arbind Pandey and Ram for involvement in the vandalism.
“We have initiated legal procedure to take action against those involved in the incident,” said DSP Bhim Prasad Dhakal.
“The police office was vandalised in the presence of police officials,” Dhakal said.
Deploring the attack, Buddha Bahadur Basnet, a UML leader, demanded action against the guilty. District secretary of the Rastriya Janamorcha, Puran KC, accused certain quarters of trying to politicise the incident.
The police office was located in a house belonging to Meena Kumari Shrestha. The house-owner has accused the YCL of pressuring her not to rent her house to the police anymore.
Four persons, including, YCL village committee treasurer Tanka Prasad Basyal, were injured in the clash on Thursday, YCL district leader Netra Prasad Pandey said.