Kathmandu, March 8
The killing of four UDMF cadres during the Mechi-Mahakali Campaign in Rajbiraj is causing displacement of CPN-UML leaders and cadres from Rajbiraj and other parts of Saptari district.
This happened after UDMF cadres started issuing threats and encircling houses of UML leaders and cadres, Satya Narayan Mandal, UML standing committee member and coordinator of the party’s Province 2 chapter, said.
The displaced UML functionaries include UML Saptari chair Govinda Neupane, secretary Shambhu Yadav and Pratap Narayan Chaudhary. Police have failed to provide security to UML activists, Mandal said, adding: Because of this, UDMF cadres are going to houses of UML functionaries and issuing threats to family members.
Police have provided security to the residence of UML central member Suman Raj Pyakurel in Rupnagar. It is the place where UML standing committee members had held a meeting after the Saptari firing that took place during the campaign. During the meeting, the party decided to postpone the campaign for three days.
Because of the UDMF’s Madhesh bandh and threats, UML cadres, who had come to district headquarters Rajbiraj from villages to attend the campaign, have been stranded, the UML said.
Fear has gripped UML cadres after a central committee meeting of the UDMF decided to socially boycott UML cadres and leaders.
Mandal told Onlinekhabar: These people — UDMF cadres — are going to every UML activist’s house and issuing threats. Thus, these people are showing criminal intent.
UML district leaders are safe, but because of the government’s inability to provide them security, UML cadres returning home after attending the UML programme have come under attack, he said. Mandal informed that UML activists in Siraha and Dhanusha districts have also received threats.
