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Works at DAOs come to a halt; Maoists defend YCL action against Dolakha CDO

Even as protests have poured in from the government, MPs and political parties following physical assault of Chief District Officer (CDO) of Dolakha district by Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) cadres, the Maoist leaders have defended their action.

Officials in district administration offices (DAOs) across the country stopped all their regular works on Monday in protest against the manhandling of CDO Uddhav Bahadur Thapa.

In Charikot, the district headquarters of Dolakha, government employees staged demonstration against the YCL attack. All government offices and educational institutions remain closed there.

Home Ministry officials in Singhdurbar also announced 'pen down' for a few hours, protesting the Dolakha incident.

YCL activists, who were demonstrating in front of the DAO for the release of Maoist district leader Bishal Khadka, had manhandled CDO Thapa and vandalised his office Sunday afternoon. Dozens of YCL activists and some police officials were injured in the ensuing clash.

Following the violence, the DAO imposed overnight curfew in Charikot. The town still remains tense with the Maoists carrying out angry protests.

Spokesperson of the Home Ministry Baman Prasad Neupane vowed action against the YCL cadres involved in the assault of CDO. Police have already detained 32 Maoist cadres and seized 11 motorcycles and one microbus. YCL cadres from Kathmandu had reached Charikot on those vehicles to join Sunday's violent protest.

"It is most condemnable and despicable act," Neupane said. Likewise, MPs also spoke against the Maoist action at the parliament on Monday. They said that the incident proved YCL was, indeed, full of criminal elements.

Meanwhile, the district committees of the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress (Democratic) issuing a joint press statement have criticised the highhandedness of the Maoist youth wing. They also asked the Maoists to immediately withdraw their agitation and opt for dialogue to settle the dispute.

However, despite the volley of protests, the Maoists have defended their action. In a statement issued by Kripashwor, Dolakha secretary of the Maoists, they have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the District Administration Office (DAO) to release Bishal Khadka, who now faces a case under the Public Offence Act for the public insult of Rastriya Prajatrantra Party district president Sundar Prasad Khadka last week.

In the statement, Kripashwor has listed seven demands including release of all Maoist detainees, return of seized motorcycles and treatment of injured, among others. The Maoists have warned of strong agitation if their demand is not met within 24 hours. He has also accused that regressive elements were behind the whole episode.

Likewise, Maoist deputy commander and in-charge of central command Ananta issued a separate statement defending YCL action. Ananta has said that the CDO was attacked after the police resorted to rampant lathi-charge and repression against peaceful demonstration. He has claimed that Khadka is innocent. nepalnews.com sd/mk July 30 07