Itahari, May 19:

Ongoing work on the study of the Koshi high dam has come to a halt following obstruction by the YCL.

A study was being carried out by the Joint Indo-Nepal Technical Team to prepare a detailed preliminary report on the feasibility of the dam. The technicians from the two countries had been making a study of the current of the Koshi river. Though the study should have come to the final stage now, not even 25 per cent of work has been completed as a result of Maoists’ threats, it is learnt.

Meanwhile, a report from Bardiya said cadres of the YCL beat up a civilian, tarred his face and took him round the village in Bardiya today.

YCL cadres tarred the face of Narayan Bikram Rana, of Dhodhari VDC-9. YCL cadres said they tarred Rana who owns 20 bighas of land in Dhodhari as he was exploiting people. A HNS report from Kathmandu said YCL cadres today painted the face of Hari Bahadur Humagain black after a girl charged him with attempting to rape her at Mulpani, police said.