Kathmandu, February 15

Leaders associated with the United Democratic Madhesi Front today met Home Minister Shakti Basnet and told him to stop arresting and indicting UDMF cadres in various districts or else the UDMF would restart its agitation.

Co-chair of Sadbhawna Party Laxman Lal Karna, who met Minister Basnet today, along with other UDMF leaders, told THT that they told the minister   if the government did not desist from arresting and indicting UDMF cadres it would only spoil the efforts of both sides to seek negotiated settlement.

UDMF’s remark comes a day after the police arrested three persons in Mahottari district in connection with the killing of Armed Police Force Sub-inspector Thaman Bahadur Bishwakarma.

Bishwakarma was dragged out of an ambulance and was allegedly killed by agitators on September 11. Karna said the police had indicted 100 people in the case and had identified 30 accused.

He said the police were indicting UDMF cadres for vehicles burnt during the protests by the agitators.

Senior leader of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal Ram Naresh Ray, who was in the UDMF team today, said investigation into the killing of APF officer should take place but the government should not terrorise people in the name of an investigation.

Ray said the government had indicted people who were involved in the agitation in Mahottari.

Ray said three persons arrested in Mahottari district were subjected to torture and the UDMF team raised the issue with the home minister.

He said the minister told the UDMF team that the centre was not aware of police’s action against the UDMF cadres and would investigate the matter. Ray said the government had started arresting and indicting agitators in Bara, Parsa and Saptari as well.

SP Chair Rajendra Mahato told THT that he held telephonic conversation with Unified CPN-Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and told him to tell Home Minister Basnet, who belonged to his party, to stop the arrest and prosecution of UDMF cadres.

“We unilaterally withdrew our blockade of border entry points so as to find a negotiated settlement of our demands but if the government continues to target our cadres and indict them in criminal offences, we will be compelled to return to agitation,” Mahato said.