Biratnagar, April 27:

Maoists today staged an open and unarmed assembly at Shahid Rangashala here in broad daylight for three hours, with the security wings making no attempt to disrupt it. The district administration, meanwhile, claimed it had no prior information of the Maoists’ meet.

Talk had been was rife that the local administration would create obstructions even before the Maoists arrived unarmed to stage the assembly and prepared for arrest.

Some 4,000 Maoists were present at the assembly, staged 10 metres from Morang DAO office. CDO Narendra Dahal said he did not know about the assembly of the Maoists in advance. “Had I known beforehand, the programme would not have been allowed to proceed.” While the Maoists staged the assembly for three hours, a patrol team of the army observed the spot from a distance. An army helicopter also inspected the venue for several minutes after the assembly ended.

First Division Commissar of the Mechi-Koshi Regional Bureau and central member of the Maoists, Dinesh Sharma (Sagar) said the agitation would continue until decisions were finalised on an unconditional constituent assembly and Loktantra.

Sharma warned the seven parties of serious consequences if they did not respect the feelings and sentiments of the people.

Reform bid

DHADING: Vowing to give up violence and refrain from destruction, local Maoist leaders said at a mass meeting at Katunje on Wednesday that they would utilise the ceasefire to undertake social reform and development activities.

Locals also will be mobilised to carry out development activities, they said. Speaking at a press meet after the assembly, member of Maoists’ Gandak Regional Bureau Pushpa Bikram Malla warned they would be compelled to take up arms again if the seven parties delayed to announce constituent assembly elections. — HNS