CHITWAN: Five members of a martyr family were thrashed by UCPN-Maoists cadres at a programme organised to felicitate martyrs' family in Maoist Chitawan Party Office premises, Bharatpur yesterday.

Maoist cadres thrashed Chandra Prasad Subedi of Ayodhayapuri-2, his wife Radhika, sons Navaraj and Govinda and daughter-in law after Subedi's family claimed the custody of 9-year-old daughter of Chandra Prasad's eldest son, Nilakantha, who was killed in the army operation during Maoist insurgency. Nilakantha's wife Geeta Acharya had married another man last year after the demise of the former.

In the press meeting, Chandra Prasad alleged that district level leaders of the UCPN-Maoists had directed to thrash them. "I should be provided the custody of my grand daughter for her proper upbringing and she has to receive the relief granted for martyr's family,” Chandra Prasad demanded adding, “Geeta, who has married another man, should not be offered the relief".

Radhika, Chandra Prasad's wife said they had thrown the materials received in their honour in the venue.