Dhading, May 21

The Nepali Congress, Dhading, today called a general strike in district headquarters Dhadingbesi, saying that CPN-UML cadres had attacked NC cadres yesterday evening.

Following the strike, life in the area was adversely affected. Shops, industries and education institutions pulled down their shutters and vehicular movement in the region came to a halt.

NC cadres had reportedly banned vehicular movement in different chowks since early this morning.

A clash had erupted between UML and NC cadres while the NC cadres were returning from a victory rally at Maidi of Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality yesterday evening.

As many as nine cadres from both NC and UML, including the newly elected chairperson of Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality Binod Timilsina from NC, were injured in the clash.

The UML had organised a victory assembly at Sandhbhanjyang, while the NC had organised a victory rally at Satdobato.

Issuing a statement, NC district president Ramesh Dhamala today demanded stern action against the culprits and fair investigation into the incident. The statement read that Timilsina had received a deep cut on his head, and his wife was also attacked in the clash.

NC accused the UML of attacking its cadres when they were having meals at home.

Meanwhile, the UML said the clash erupted after NC cadres attacked them with stones, beer bottles, and other objects while they were returning from the victory rally.

Former chairperson of Dhading UML, Guru Prasad Burlakoti said that his party’s cadres Narayan Puri and Sanubhai Ale were injured in the clash. He informed that the injured have been sent to the district hospital after receiving primary treatment in a local health facility. A critically injured NC cadre Narendra Bhatta is receiving treatment in Kathmandu-based Trauma Centre.