Bajura, March 22

After the government banned the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal and its activities, Nepal Police personnel have been deployed to villages of Bajura to arrest the party’s cadres.

A police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Uddab Singh Bhat from District Police Office, Bajura, has reached remote villages of the district searching for CPN cadres and leaders. The police team has been deployed to Jagannath Rural Municipality and Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality. These rural municipalities are three-day walk from the district headquarters.

DSP Bhat said police personnel had been mobilised to provide security to the locals. “We have launched a search operation in the remote areas on the basis of information that CPN cadres are collecting donation and increasing their activities there,” said DSP Bhat.

Karan Damai of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality-1 said they were scared after a team of 50 police personnel reached their village carrying weapons.

Police had launched the search operation a week ago, but they have not been able to find CPN leaders or cadres.Swamikartik Khapar, Himali, Jagannath rural municipalities were the most affected during the 10-year Maoist insurgency in the district.

Meanwhile, CPN cadres and leaders have given continuity to the extortion drive in the villages. They are collecting donation from local schools, employees and people’s representatives.

Budhiganga Municiplaity-10 ward chair Dharmaraj Jaishi said CPN cadres had demanded one month’s salary as donation from him.

“They have sent a circular for mandatory donation. We are forced to give donation”, Jaishi stated. An employee said that CPN cadres were collecting donation from contractors, government employees and others.