Hundreds of families displaced in Bara due to threats of attack

Hundreds of families of Piprabirta VDC in Bara have been displaced from the village due to threats of attack from a group reportedly close to the Maoists.

Dozens of families of Sahani community have deserted their homes in search of safety after a group of about 400 people-who claimed themselves to be Maoist cadres- came to the village on Wednesday, assaulted them, vandalised their houses and looted their properties, reports say.

The displaced have been taking asylum in their relative's houses and in the district headquarter Kalaiya.

The attacks took place following a controversy between two communities over the construction of an irrigation canal in the village.

Bara district administration has deployed a team of 40 policemen under the command of an Inspector to check the exodus, after villagers continued to move out till Saturday.

Eight political parties excluding the Maoists have alleged the involvement of Maoist CA member Shiv Chandra Kushwaha in the attacks.

Meanwhile, the Unified CPN (Maoist) has accepted the involvement of their cadres in the attacks. At an all party meeting held in Kalaiya Sunday afternoon, district secretary of the maoists Shambhu Mandal said his party cadres were involved in the attacks and the party would investigate on the matter, according to Bara CDO Kailash Nath Kharel. The meeting also decided to compensate the victims with Rs 10,000 per family.

The parties met in Kalaiya on Saturday and issued a joint statement saying the attacks took place as per the instructions of the CA member. The parties have urged for an independent probe on the incident and compensation to the victims. nepalnews.com Mar 22 09