TAPLEJUNG: Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC), an ethnic group active in the eastern hills, imposed bandh in Taplegunj district today.

The bandh was called demanding release of their five cadres arrested by police earlier.

Police, however, said they had detained the five in connection to the kidnapping of a Maoist cadre of Pedang VDC, Chhatra Bahadur Buda Chhetri, four days ago. The police claimed that the five Limbuwan cadres had blindfolded Chhetri and were taking him to undisclosed location.

Those arrested include central advisor of the group Khadga Tamling, Ramkumar Rai, Bishnu Adhikari, Chandra Khawas and Tej Bahadur Tamling.

Following the foiled abduction bid, the Maoists have been accusing the Limbuwan cadres of targeting their cadres time and again. Suman Limbu, district committee in-charge of the Maoists, said that the Limbuwan cadres also attacked their district committee member Agni Basnet while he was on his way to district headquarters a few days ago.

The Maoists, issuing a press statement today, protested against the Limbuwan bandh. The former rebel party also mentioned that protection of such criminals would encourage anarchic activities.

The FLSC, on the other hand, warned that it would intensify protest if their cadres were not released at the earliest.