Dhangadhi:

Activists of pro-Maoist Tharuwan National Mukti Morcha (TNMM) on Tuesday beat up Kailali assistant CDO Ganja Bahadur Mahara Chhetry inside his office. One security personnel was also injured when the TNMM cadres assaulted him. TNMM had announced lock-out of government offices in five districts in the far western region demanding release of eight Young Communist League activists arrested after the Taratal incident in Bardiya district recently. The TNMM activists padlocked the Kailali DAO, the DDC office, the District Land Revenue Office and the District Agricultural Office in Kailali.

Some 100 rallyists reached the DAO and beat up police constable Ganesh Dhami and entered the CDO office and thrashed Mahara. “They hit me on my head and face. I fell down and my friends saved me,” Mahara, who is undergoing treatment in the Seti Zonal Hospital, said.

“His condition is out of danger but has been referred to the capital for further treatment because he has sustained serious head injuries,” said Dr Ganesh Bahadur Singh. Six UN officials, who had reached the DAO when the incident occurred, were also locked inside the DAO office and were freed half-an-hour later.

“We will intesify our protest until our cadres are released and the Bardiya CDO is punished,” said TNMM leader, Utsav.