KALIKOT: Two Maoist cadres were critically injured when the activists of Youth Force and Young Communist League clashed at Manma bazaar in the district on Monday.

Unified CPN-Maoist's Bheri Karnali State Committee member Ganga Prasad Chaulagai 'Dhruba' and YCL district member Min Bahadur Singh 'Manoj' were injured in the clash between the youth wings of CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist.

The injured were airlifted to Surkhet for further treatment.

According to Jarma Singh, an eyewitness, the clash ensued after a minor argument between the two groups. The YF cadres were heading to Manma bazaar when the incident happened.

Youth Force's district member Dan Bahadur Malla, Kamal Shahi and Suman Shahi were also injured in the clash.

Kalikot DSP Rana Bahadur Rayamajhi said they had arrested three activists of YF. He also said Padam Singh, district member of UCPN-M, had managed to flee.

Issuing a press statement, UML's district committee claimed that the YCL cadres had attacked the YF cadres while they were returning to their homes.