Indulge in vandalism after Maoists held with arms

Siraha, August 29:

Cadres of the Young Communist League went on the rampage today, vandalising a police van and looting police weapons in Choharwa of Siraha district.

The furore erupted after a patrol from the Adhar base camp at Sukhipur arrested seven Maoists, including former people’s government district chief Bishnudev Yadav, for carrying weapons.

Police arrested Bishnudev Yadav, Anant Kumar Yadav, Shambhu Chaudhari, Bimal Kumar Thapa and Bijay Kumar Thakur from Nimchowk in Phulhakatti-9 VDC of the district after a search of the tipper they were on. They were carrying two pistols, a country-made gun and some rounds of ammunition. Tipper driver Ram Bhagat Mahato and helper Binod Chaudhari were also arrested.

YCL cadres went on the rampage after the seven Maoists were arrested. The police weapons were looted after a police team from Golbazaar reached Choharwa to quell the situation, said the Golbazaar area police office.

DSP Mingmar Lama said the YCL cadres looted four .303 rifles and 115 rounds of ammunition from the police team. The police van was damaged by the YCL cadres. Police, however, managed to recover one .303 rifle from the looters. YCL district president Jagat Yadav said his party cadres snatched three rifles and ammunition from the police. Yadav alleged that the police laid a trap for YCL cadres and arrested them when they had gone to visit relatives. He ca-lled for the unconditional release of the YCL cadres, add-ing that the YCL would otherwise begin an agitation aga-inst the police administration.

Meanwhile, the CPN-Maoist declared an indefinite bandh from 2 pm to protest the arrest of its cadres. Business establishments, educational institutions and bazaars were shut.

The district police office released Bishnudev Yadav, Ananta kumar, Bimal, Ram Bhagat and Binod after Shambhu Chaudhari and Bijay Thakur admitted that the weapons belonged to them. The latter two have been kept in custody for further investigation, said DSP Lama adding that they would be charged under the Arms Act.

YCL cadres have placed tree trunks and lit tyre bonfires to block Mahendra highway at Old Choharwa and New Choharwa to demand the release of the Maoist cadres.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded due to the highway blockade.

Maoist cadres also vandalised a van belonging to Sipradi Trading Co near New Choharwa chowk.