Rajbiraj, January 8:

The staffers of the Rajbiraj-based office of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) halted their work today demanding action against those involved in thrashing their co-workers.

Maleth VDC villagers beat up an NEA team which had on Saturday gone into the area to inspect leakage. The administration, however, has not taken action against them, the staffers said.

NEA staffers Binod Thakur, Suresh Gupta, critically hurt from the villagers’ beatings, are undergoing treatment and four others returned home after treatment, the staffers said.

They have halted services except collection of bills and emergency service. They said they will indefinitely close the 11-KV transmission line at Rupani from January 10 if action isn’t taken against those involved in the incident.

The agitating staffers handed a memorandum to CDO today with demands that the victims be provided compensation, the seized tools returned and action be taken action against the guilty. Locals at Maleth VDC said the incident occurred after the NEA staffers asked for bribes. NEA Rajbiraj chief Radhesaran Mahato, however, said the allegation was false.