Nuwakot, March 10:

The Opinion Collection Team of the Constituent Assembly, which had reached Thansingh Nuwakot, returned to district headquarters Bidur this morning, after the cadres of Unified Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League thrashed one of the team members.

The YCL cadres attacked Nepali Congress district committee member Binod Pathak when the team was preparing to organise a programme at Chhahare in Thansingh VDC. Pathak was attacked for allegedly thrashing a child, who smeared colours on his white cloths while celebrating the Holi festival. “Some 50 YCL cadres, led by area in-charge Phatta Bahadur Tamang, attacked me with iron rods, bricks and stones,” Pathak, who was seriously injured in the attack, said.

DSP Raj Kumar Lamsal said Pathak was attacked after he misbehaved with a child. Pathak, however, insisted that the police were making allegations against him to protect the assailants.

He claimed that the group that attacked him included YCL activists from Thansingh, Thanapati and Kakani among other VDCs. Pathak is undergoing treatment in Trishuli Hospital.

Following the incident, CA members Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani and Jagadishor Narsingh KC and four government employees returned to Bidur.

Organising a press meet in Bidur, Dr Lohani condemned the YCL highhandedness.

Though Unified Maoists’ CA member Bimala Subedi consented to put off the programme, she did not return to Bidur.

Team member and Nepali Congress CA member Jagadish Narsingh KC said the party

had taken the attack on Pathak very seriously.