Maoists attack UML cadres: injure 12

Kathmandu, Mar 13 (UNI) The Commmunist Party of Nepal (Maoist) today attacked and injured 12 people of Unified Marxist Leninst (UML) during an election campaign meeting in east Nepal.

Eyewitnesses said as the UML leaders and cadres were proceeding to the meeting venue at Chyadalu, the Maoists rolled boulders down the hill slope to block their way. When they failed to stop the UML cadres, another group of 60 Maoist cadres armed with staves and khukuris attacked the UML team while the election meeting was underway.

UML member of interim parliament Kamal Sunuwar, UML Bagmati zonal member Angababu Lama, Chitra Bahadur Karki, Khadga Bahadur Sunuwar, Shanti Prasad Poudel, Subhas Lama and several cadres were injured in the attack.

"I saw the Maoists pushing boulders down the slope as the UML team was proceeding to Chyadalu," The Himalayan Times quoted Preeti Bazaar resident Man Bahadur Karki as saying. He said when the UML team managed to reach Chyadalu, a 60-strong group of Maoist cadres unleashed a savage attack on the UML men, adding that they also snatched the UML poll manifesto copies and other documents from them.

Other eyewitnesses said the Maoists prevented the locals from attending the UML election meeting.

several groups of Maoists shooed away locals from different places telling them to go home for their own safety.

The district unit of the UML said the CPN-(Maoist) cadres had claimed they attacked the UML team, as it had entered a Maoist political base without permission.

UML central secretariat secretary Amrit Kumar Bohora said the injured party workers would be brought to here for treatment.

He added the Maoists had also issued a diktat to the locals of Preeti Bazaar and adjoining areas not to give food or accommodation to UML leaders or cadres. Mr Bohora alleged that the Maoists were trying to disrupt the Constituent Assembly polls and warned that the UML would react strongly.

UNI XC NC DB1134