Dang, November 26

Despite bomb explosion, abduction, arson and threat, voting for provincial and parliamentary polls concluded enthusiastically in Rolpa and western Rukum today.

Amidst widespread protest of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal cadres, the first phase of polls was conducted in these districts.

CPN cadres had exploded bombs throughout the day at Uwa, Pakhapani, Jinawang, Iriwang, Gairigaun and Budhagaun, among other places in Rolpa today.

APF personnel reached Iriwang after they came to know that CPN cadres had halted the voting process there. CPN cadres had thrown a sutali bomb at APF personnel. The APF returned five rounds of fire. No untoward incident, however, was reported. CPN-Maoist Centre leader Barshaman Pun is joint candidate of the left alliance in Rolpa.

CPN cadres abducted Buddhising Budha and Chiranjivi Budha of Pachhawang at Duikholi Rural Municipality in Rolpa last night. Gopal Budha of the same place said that he had abstained from voting after CPN cadres threatened him not to cast his ballot. Despite all this, 55 to 60 per cent votes were cast in Rolpa.

Similarly, CPN cadres’ attempt to have zero voting at Thabang-1 failed. Journalist Mausam Rokka at Thabang said that 267 votes were cast at Thabang.

Likewise, voting at two voting centres was postponed in western Rukum. Repolling will be held at both the centres on December 7. CPN-Maoist Centrer’s Janardan Sharma is the parliamentary candidate in the district.

Ballot papers of Gattasaina Kha voting centre at Ward No 11 in Athbishkot Municipality were set ablaze in western Rukum. Voting was postponed after smoke came out of the proportional representation ballot papers.

Police have arrested NC agent Keshav Khadka from Rastriya Secondary School voting centre. Voting officer Krishna Prasad Gautam said that police held Khadka while he was fleeing after throwing acid on the ballot papers. Police had to open two rounds of fire to take Khadka under control. At this centre, voting of only proportional representation system will be held on December 7.

After 250 votes were cast at Ratna Basic School’s Ka voting centre in Bafikot-5, CPN cadres had set ballot papers ablaze. Ballot papers meant for parliamentary polls under the first-past-the-post system were torched. The polls have been postponed for December 7. Three persons involved in the arson were held by police, said Inspector Rishi Dhungana.