Dhankuta under curfew

RAMESH CHANDRA ADHIKARI

Curfew has been imposed since 5 pm after the UML-aligned Youth Force (YF) and the Maoist-aligned Young Communist League (YCL) did not come for dialogue, held by the administration in a bid to resolve the conflict peacefully.

DHANKUTA, NOV 03 - As efforts for talks went in vain, the local administration has clamped indefinite curfew order in Dhankuta district headquarters since Tuesday evening fearing clash between the youth wings of Unified CPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML.

The administration said the curfew has been imposed since 5 pm after the UML-aligned Youth Force (YF) and the Maoist-aligned Young Communist League (YCL) did not come for dialogue, held by the administration in a bid to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The curfew order is effective in Ghumaune Chatuara in the east, School Danda in the west, Bihibare Hat in the north and Atmara Dhat in the south of the district headquarters, Chief District Officer Kali Prasad Parajuli informed.

According to a UML source, tensions grew between the youth wings after the YCL cadres torched nine motorcycles and one van being used by the YF activists in Sindhuwa the previous night. The police personnel have been preventing any untoward incidents that may ensue between the two groups since last night.

Protesting the incident, the YF had called a district closure today. Transportation has come to a grinding halt at Dharan-Dhankuta road stretch along the Koshi Highway. Hundreds of travelers have been stranded at Hilei, Paakhibaas, Leguwa, Sindhuwa, among other places. The YF activists also torched the flag and signboard at the Maoists office at the district headquarters.

The Maoists, in a press release today, have claimed that the party is not involved in the Sindhuwa incident. However, the UML states otherwise.

Meanwhile, an unidentified group attacked Maoists cadre Sher Bahadur Baniya at Sindhuwa and vandalised the house of VDC committee secretary Gyanendra Karki early this morning. Baniya has sustained critical injuries.

Locals demand security

The local residents have demonstrated here in Sindhuwa since early Tuesday morning demanding security.

Some 3,000 locals have been chanting slogans and protesting against the Maoists for Sindhuwa incident.