Lamjung, March 23:

Protesting the Gaur incident, the Maoists of Lamgung held a protest programme at Besisahar today. They went around the city shouting slogans and mourning the death of 28 party cadres in the incident.

In Mahottari, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers came out of the camps to protest the incident. PLA soldiers from the Rambrikshya Memorial Brigade staged a protest and returned to the camp.

Some 600 PLA soldiers from the Solu Salleri brigade based in Sindhuli’s lower Ranibas-6 Chandanpur and 700 PLA soldiers from the Dudhauli based II Division and Bishal Kumar Memorial Brigade from Udayapur’s Belsot also staged protest rallies for hours.

In Pokhara, the Maoist-affiliated Jatiya Tatha Chhetriya Ganatantrik Mahasangh Kaski held a protest rally. Protesters carried placards that read, “Ban the Forum”, “Punish the Forum’s Leaders and Chief of the Local Administration”.

Speaking on the occasion, Maoist central member Hitraj Pandey alleged that the forum’s agitation was not for the good of Madhesis but a conspiracy against them. He also said that the US, the palace and Indian extremists were conspiring against the Maoists so as to prevent their inclusion in the interim government.

Maoists forced shut all industrial establishments in the district headquarters of Syangja. Meanwhile, human rights activists said in Hetauda said the Gaur massacre was pre-planned.

The PLA soldiers from Shaktikhor-based third division deserted the cantonment site and held a protest rally today.

They demanded that the culprits involved in the Rautahat’s Gaur incident be punished.

MJF meet put off

DAMAK: A mass meeting of the MJF scheduled for Friday at Baniyani of Jhapa has been postponed, police said. Hundreds of activists of the Maoist affiliated Young Communist League were deployed in Baniyani area since Thursday after they came to know of the MJF’s intended mass meet there. Locals said that MJF postponed its meet in apprehension of clashes with the Maoists. — HNS