Maoists kidnap UML cadres, others

Ramechhap, January 18:

The Maoists have abducted six persons, including a CPN-UML cadre, over a dispute related to the Prayageshwar higher secondary school located in Pakarbas VDC of Ramechhap district. In another incident two days ago, they abducted two other UML cadres in Achham district.

They abducted UML cadre and Pakarbas VDC secretary Tulsidas Shrestha, students Resham Ruchal and Manish Shrestha from their residences in Ramechhap. All Nepal National Free Students’ Union national committee member Prakash Karki said that the Maoists also took under control class 12 students Rita Poudel, Srijana Dhungel and Subba Rokka while they were in class.

The dispute arose after the Maoists alleged that pro-UML students had questioned the teachers’ competence and tried to manhandle them. A group of 50 Maoists reached the school and abducted the students. The pro-UML ANNFSU, in a press release condemned the abduction and demanded action against the Maoists. ANNFSU office-bearer Karki said the Maoists released Rokka after thrashing him. The whereabouts of the other five abducted persons are unknown.

Meanwhile, Maoist district secretary Madan said he was unaware of the incident.

Our correspondent from Accham reports that Maoists abducted two UML cadres Ram Bahadur Kadayat and Jagdish Lohar of Sodsa VDC two days ago for allegedly beating up a Maoist cadre. The UML’s Achham unit said in a release that two abducted persons were its cadres, adding that a scuffle had taken place a day before Maghe Sankranti between the Maoists and locals, including the two UML cadres. A police team from the district police office reached the spot only yesterday. The Achham UML said that the Maoists badly beat up Kadayat and released while the whereabouts of Lohar were still unknown.