Khotang, March 26, 2008

A Maoist cadre died in firing during a clash between the Maoists and Nepali Congress cadres at the Sisakhola area of Solukhumbu district today.

Secretary of the Khotang district office of the CPN (Maoist) Dhrub Parajuli identified the deceased as Ganga Bahadur Bhujel (Gajendra). Twenty-five persons, including NC candidate for the constituent assembly polls from Solukhumbu district Bal Bahadur KC and Maoist district secretary Himal Giri, were injured in the clash.

Ten NC cadres and KC were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. Bhujel died in police firing after the Maoist cadres tried to disrupt an NC poll meeting, a local, Narayan Shrestha, claimed. Parajuli said the Maoists had informed the district administration office that they will organise a programme today.

He claimed that KC and NC cadres came to the venue and ordered police to open fire on the Maoists. Police fired 16 rounds, he said. However, assistant chief district officer Bed Nidhi Khanal said the incident occurred after the Maoists attacked the NC poll meeting. “There was firing, but we do not know who opened fire,” he said.

The Maoists claimed that police had it all pre-planned. Protesting the incident, the Maoists have declared an indefinite bandh in the district from tomorrow and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

The incident occurred an hour before Sitaula’s visit to Solukhumbu. Sitaula was to visit the district to monitor the security situation. Talking to mediapersons, Sitaula expressed regret over the incident.

TMDP, Sadbhavana tie up for polls

Kathmandu, March 26, 2008

Mahanth Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhavana Party (SP) have agreed to support each other in 40 constituencies of the Tarai as part of the Constituent Assembly poll alliance.

In all, there are 116 constituencies in the Tarai. The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, one of the constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front that spearheaded the Madhes movement, has stayed off the poll alliance. According to a press release issued here today, the SP will support TMDP chief Mahanth Thakur in Sarlahi constituency-6.

Other prominent leaders of the TMDP to benefit from the alliance are Amresh Narayan Jha (Dhanusha-3) Sri Krishna Yadav (Dhanusha-5) and Govind Prasad Tharu (Bardiya-3). The prominent leaders of the SP to benefit from the alliance with the TMDP are Ram Narayan Yadav (Morang-5) and Raj Kumar Gupta (Siraha-1). Yadav is vice-president and Gupta is the joint general secretary of the party.

SP and TMDP have, however, failed to team up in Sarlahi constituency-4 where SP president Rajendra Mahato himself is a candidate for the CA polls under the First-Pastthe-Post system.