But no red carpet welcome by Maoists yet

Pokhara/Ramechhap, Jan 7:

VDC secretaries of Kaski district began returning to their villages today, while the Maoists in Bardiya

and Ramechhap districts told VDC secretaries to confine themselves to works related to constituent assembly elections and updating of voters’ list.

Kaski Maoist secretary Karan and Maoist leader Bishnu Poudel had yesterday directed VDC secretaries to go to villages to distribute citizenship certificates and update voters’ lists.

At a meeting held today at the Kaski DDC office in the presence of CDO Bimal Prasad Dhakal and the local development officer Nara Hari Baral, the VDC secretaries agreed to return to the villages by January 9.

VDC secretaries have been directed to go villages, distribute citizenship certificates and update voters’ lists, CDO Dhakal said.

“We have urged secretaries not to organise the village council as per the old Act. We have not prevented them from doing other works,” Maoist leader Bishnu Poudel said.

The secretaries will go to their respective villages by January 9, LDO Baral said.

Secretary of Chapkot VDC Dilli Ram Baral and the secretary of Kanhu

VDC Rajendra Acharya managed some furniture and documents to take to the VDCs today.

“I have decided to go the village on Monday,” secretary of Dangsingh VDC Man Bahadur Thapa said, adding: “The Maoists have told us not to organise village councils until the formation of the interim government.”

A report from Biratnagar said the Eastern Regional Administration Office (ERAO), Dhankuta, today directed all VDC secretaries to go to their respective villages by January 9.

Sub-regional administrator at the ERAO, Prem Prasad Bhattarai, said vacant posts of 27 VDC secretaries will be manned soon.

Meanwhile, the Nuwakot District Development Committee has directed VDC secretaries to go to villages by January 9. Local development officer (LDO) of Nuwakot Durga Bhaktta Dhakal said all VDC secretaries will reach 61 VDCs of the district within mid-January.

Maoists said in Ramechhap today they will let VDC secretaries do works that are related to constituent assembly elections.

Maoist in-charge (Ramechhap) Basanta organised a press meet in party office today.

“VDC secretaries will be allowed to work related to elections,” Basanta said.

LDO Komal Prasad Kafle said VDC secretaries have been directed to be report to VDCs by January 9.

VDC secretaries in Bardiya will be allowed only to distribute citizenship certificates and do works related to conduct of constituent assembly elections, a VDC secretary quoted a Maoist leader said as saying today.

“Information has been received that the Maoists will not allow VDC secretaries to do the works except distribution of citizenship certificates and works related to constituent assembly elections,” acting LDO Durga Prasad Bhusal also said, adding: “All VDC secretaries will go to villages within a few days.”