Kapilvastu limping back to normalcy, curfew on

Kathmandu, Sep 23: The western Nepal district of Kapilvastu, where riots broke out after the murder of an anti-maoist leader last Sunday, was limping back to normalcy after a week of violence.

No untoward incidents has been reported from anywhere in the district since last night. However, curfew clamped on the district continued, except in Taulihawa, for the eighth consecutive day.

Locals complained of difficulties due to prolonged curfew.

They said that they were suffering from mental tensions, frustration, Kantipuronline reported.

Hundreds of houses and vehicles were destroyed when angry mobs rampaged through the hill districts in protests that followed the shooting of former Chairman of anti-Maoist group Mohid Khan at Birpur village on Sunday. The rioting also spread to neighbouring towns and villages.

Khan was the leader of an anti-Maoist vigilante group during Nepal's 10-year civil war between the former rebels and the government. He was killed by unidentified gunman at his home.

Local people have accused the Maoists of carrying out Khan's killing, a charge denied by the former rebels who signed a peace agreement with the government last year after a decade long conflict.

They instead charged Khan with continuing anti-Maoist activities despite the retaliatory committee being disbanded.

UNI