PHIDIM: Making the mockery of law and order, UCPN-Maoist cadres today demonstrated with home-made weapons and canes in Phidim, the district headquarter of Panchthar, on the third day of their three-day general strike.

They brandished the weapons protesting the police action on yesterday’s rally when their five colleagues, including Aindra Kerung, coordinator of the district struggle committee, injured. The police had rained batons yesterday after the Maoist cadres tried to forcibly shut the government offices.

About 300 people, wielding the weapons and canes, who were brought here from different VDCs of the district, took out in today’s demonstration. The rally, which made a round of the local marketplace, later converged into a corner meet. Speaking at the meeting,

various local Maoist leaders, including Amarsingh Thapa, deputy

chairman of the Maoists’ intellectual body and the Maoists’ district in-charge Miksa, warned of retaliation if the police continued suppressing their movement.

Condition of three Maoist cadres, who were injured in the yesterday’s incident, is reported to be critical. The three — Aindra Kurung, Laxmi Neupane and Umesh Timsina — have been sent to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences Dharan for further treatment.

Educational institutions and government offices remained closed while vehicular movement was completely halted here for the third consecutive day today due to the Maoists’ strike.