Callous Assaults
In flagrant violation of peace pact and undermining the norms of ruling party, Maoist activists attack security posts
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
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Prachanda : Mounting criticisms |
Three incidents of past one week have dampened the spirits of not only the peace-loving people but also compelled parties to sit back and ponder over the heightened attacks by Maoist activists.
Last Monday (April 30), in the eastern region of Banke district, hundreds of Maoists stormed a border police post in Suiya area in the night and looted three rifles and abducted police in-charge there.
Over 500 Maoists led by local area in-charge and district president of Madhesi Mukti Morcha Nanda Kishore Pandeya stormed the police post and set its furniture and other items to fire. Seven policemen fled to safety while post in charge Mukesh Kunwar was abducted and detained for 14 hours.
Later, the rifles and Kunwar were discovered at the house of Pandeya and freed. Armed with domestic weapons like swords, the Maoists also physically attacked and injured Kunwar as well as three other policemen. According to Kunwar, Pandeya and police constable Tek Bahadur Rana entered into an argument after the former refused to let the policeman frisk him during a regular check. This led to the attack subsequently.
Two days after the incident in Banke, Maoist activists led freed Kamaiyas and landless squatters to attack a post of Armed Police Force (APF) in Sanoshree of Bardiya district. They were demonstrating protesting the APF’s move to place policemen at a godown of the Cotton Development Committee building in Sanoshree where cadres of Young Communist League (YCL) used to stay earlier. Following the violence, curfew had to be imposed for four days in Ward No 3, 4 and 5 of Sanoshree VDC.
Later in Gulariya of Baridya district, police arrested 46 – of which 38 have been slapped with charges under Public Offense law - cadres of YCL. The YCL had led an irate crowd of freed Kamaiyas and landless squatters and burnt down the office of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and land revenue. They vandalized the offices burning down vehicles, furniture and documents there.
The Tharu Liberation Front (TLF) imposed two-day bandh in five districts of far and mid western region including Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dang on Friday and Saturday (May 4 and 5). The bandh was imposed in order to protest the clash between Armed Police Force and Maoist activists in Sanoshree of Bardiya two days ago.
On Sunday (May 6) in Tulsipur of Dang district, activists of Maoists resorted to vandalism refusing to return seized properties to owners. A group of people led by Maoist activists and including those who were currently enjoying the properties and lands of displaced persons, vandalized municipality office of Tulsipur where senior leaders of Maoists and Nepali Congress (NC) were discussing ways to return the properties. The group also severely thrashed Lokmani Giri, a local NC leader who had been displaced due to the conflict.
Given the seriousness of these three incidents, the UNMIN has been asked to launch a probe to find out if it constituted violation of peace pact or not.
Meanwhile, the YCL of the Maoists has come under severe criticism from leaders of other political parties. NC vice president Sushil Koirala has been quite vocal in deploring the YCL for ‘terrorizing the people.’
Even UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal criticized the YCL for continuing violent activities.
On the other hand, comrade Sagar, who is the valley commander of YCL, said that they are now engaged in organizational expansion drive. “The main objective of YCL is to bring the youths together on a plank to build a new republican Nepal,” he said.
Reacting to criticisms against his organization, Sagar said, “As Lenin had once said, one should feel that one is heading on a right direction if one attracts criticisms from opponents.”
The YCL, which was formed just over three months ago, is preparing to attract half a million membership across 75 districts. Maoist leaders have clearly said that YCL will be mobilized if they decide to launch another agitation.
