Siraha, September 6

Clashes have erupted among leaders and cadres of different forces today, on the day for filing nomination of candidacies to contest the third round of local level elections in Province 2.

More than a dozen cadres of two factions of the Nepali Congress had a row over poll tickets for candidates of their choice at the party office in Siraha today.

The clash erupted between supporters of Nepali Congress District President and parliamentarian Ram Chandra Yadav and former Minister of General Administration and party’s central treasurer Sita Devi Yadav.

The condition of the party’s district secretary Ram Babu Yadav and Jagadish Yadav is said to be critical. Both of them are undergoing treatment at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

NC cadres Sanjaya Prakash Yadav, Sudhan Yadav, Mukesh Yadav and Bushan Yadav, among others, sustained injuries. They are receiving treatment at a local health facility.

The cadres of Ram Chandra faction alleged that the supporters of the Sita Devi Yadav broke into the hall during a meeting on the ticket distribution and manhandled them. “They were throwing stones earlier but they assaulted us abruptly,” they claimed.

Former minister and NC central treasurer Sita Devi’s son Dr Subhash Yadav had filed his candidacy as mayoral candidate at Siraha Municipality. “The clash erupted when the leaders were discussing nomination of the mayoral, deputy mayoral and chairpersons in all the 22 wards based on consensus,” said an NC leader.  Meanwhile, it is reported that clashes erupted between cadres of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre at Devahi Gonahi Municipality of Rautahat today.

When the cadres of UML leader Dharmendra Patel encountered the cadres of CPN-Maoist Centre leader Prem Lal Sah while heading to nominate their candidacy for the polls, the rival forces clashed. Around a dozen cadres including a woman sustained injuries. Many of the injured are said to be UML cadres and they are receiving treatment at the local health facility, said Sub-inspector Madan Thakur of Area Police Office Shivanagar.