One killed, seven injured as NC, NCP cadres clash
Ramnagar, October 30
A Nepali Congress cadre was shot dead and seven others were injured in a clash between Nepali Congress and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) cadres in Ramnagar Rural Municipality, Sarlahi, today.
The deceased has been identified as Ram Bilash Mahato, 60. Police said Mahato was shot dead in the clash at 8:30am today.
Seven persons were hit by bullet shrapnel, lathis and stones. Mahadev Yadav, Shreenarayan Mahato, Bhojendra Mahato, Prem Narayan Mahato, Mukesh Prasad Kuswaha, Bibek Mahato and Pramod Sahani are being treated for injuries at a local health facility, said police.
NCP cadres had attacked ward Chair Ram Naresh Mahato last evening for allocating budget to development works unilaterally.
The dispute that started after Mahato was attacked culminated in the violence today.
Mahato is undergoing treatment at Malangawa District Hospital.
The clash broke out when NC cadres rallied to protest after yesterday's attack on Mahato.
An eyewitness said ward Chair Mahato's uncle Ram Bilash was killed when shots were fired from the house of Shree Narayan Yadav after the clash erupted.
According to the deceased's wife Mantutiya Devi Mahato, Ram Bilash collapsed on the spot when three bullets hit him in the abdomen and the mouth. She charged that the shots were fired targeting Mahato when he was about to shut down his shop. He is survived by two sons and wife.
The houses of NC cadres were vandalised.
Police personnel deployed from Area Police Office, Gadhiya, chased away the NCP cadres from the incident site and brought the situation under control, said local Binod Mahato.
Around 300 personnel of Nepal Police and APF from Sarlahi and Rautahat were deployed to the incident site.
NC lawmaker Amresh Singh, who reached the incident site, accused the government of murdering an NC cadre in a premeditated manner. “The incident occurred due to negligence on the part of the police administration,” Singh charged.
Singh warned of protest until the guilty were booked. Sarlahi Police Chief SP Poshraj Pokhrel said police had launched an investigation to nab the culprits. SP Pokhrel said preparations were underway to send the body to the district hospital for postmortem.
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