CHITWAN: Activists of Young Communist League (YCL) - the youth wing of UCPN-Maoist - today halted the main highway of Chitwan for five hours demanding immediate release of their four comrades. Police in the morning had arrested the four YCL activists on the charge of distributing illegally imported sugar.

District Police Office Chitwan said the arrested, however, were released later conditionally. The administration also began investigation over the import of sugar. The Maoists would be responsible to compensate if the sugar brought in was proved to be legally imported.

Due to the obstruction, no vehicles moved on the main road of Chitwan throughout the day. The YCL activists had created obstructions along the East West Highway and Narayangarh-Mugling road section, bringing the traffic to a complete halt.

The YCL, blaming that two trucks those left uncared for on the highway had illegally brought 680 sacks of sugar, had distributed it for free to locals.

The police, then, had held YCL Chitwan coordinator Prakas Khanal 'Shailesh', assistant coordinator Sashakta Sharan Gole 'Abhiskek', district member Tarakeshwor Singh and UCPN Maoist area number-1 secretary Sangita Bhattarai.

A few days ago, the Chitwan YCL had seized about 10, 000 sacks of sugar that was hidden in the godown of Bajarunga Agrawal in Belchock of Narayangarh and handed it over to security bodies. The godown has been sealed now.

YCL coordinator Shailesh claimed that the seized sugar of both the incidents belonged to Agrawal.