Badarmude bomb victims stage protest as Dahal arrives in Madi

Relatives and family members of those killed in a deadly bomb attack by the Maoists on a passenger bus in 2005 at Chitwan's Badarmude staged protest as UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal arrived in the area to inaugurate the Madi Festival on Thursday.

Skeleton of a passenger photographed after the a bomb attack on it by the Maoists at Badarmude of Chitwan district on 06 June 2005, killing 38 people and injuring 72. (File Photo)

However, Dahal escaped the embarrassment as police dispersed the protesting locals at Basantapur just before he landed at the venue on a helicopter. Two of the protesters including Krishna Adhikari, who was injured in the bombing, were arrested.

Later on, Dahal inaugurated the festival. Local leaders of the opposition parties boycotted the opening function, complaining that leaders of their parties were not invited.

Thirty eight passengers were killed and 72 injured in the blast on June 6, 2005 in one of the worst attacks on innocent civilians during the Maoist insurgency. The Maoists apologised for the attack, saying it happened mistakenly. nepalnews.com