Rajbiraj, July 17:

Accusing the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha of killing its cadres, the CPN-Maoist today announced an armed struggle against the Terai front.

Addressing a press conference here today, the central member of the Maoists and chairperson of the Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha, Matrika Yadav, said: “The Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha has not stopped killing our cadres and as such we are forced to announce an armed struggle against it.”

“Though the Morcha says it is fighting for the Madheshis, its politics is against them,” Yadav said. He further accused the palace of backing the Morcha. “Though we repeatedly urged the coordinator of the Morcha, Jaya Krishna Goit, and his party to sit for talks, he ignored our call and instead murdered our cadres,” Yadav said.

“The armed struggle would continue until Goit comes to the talks table,” he said, adding that the Morcha was trying to obstruct the peace process in the country.

Cadres of the Morcha had shot dead two Maoists, Mahendra Yadav and Bijaya Jha ‘Gulten,’ at Chhinnamasta (Saptari) two weeks ago.

Goit, who was the chairperson of the Madheshi Mukti Morcha, revolted against the party and formed the Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha two years ago. The Morcha has been waging an armed conflict in Saptari since then.