UCPN (M) Dailekh convention concludes; 45 hurt in clashes

UCPN (Maoist) Dailekh convention has concluded in the district headquarters amid protests from opposition parties, on Wednesday afternoon.

At least 45 people have sustained injuries in clashes that ensued after Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and party Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha arrived in Dailekh district headquarters to inaugurate the first district convention of UCPN (Maoist) party, state television reported.

Nepal TV also reported that opposition cadres vandalised UCPN (Maoist) district office and completely damaged its building. Similarly, local local police said Maoist cadres pelted stones at the office of local newspaper Hamro Tesro Ankha.

Most of the injured have sustained injuries to the head and are receiving treatment at the district hospital. Police said the convention had to be put off for some time due to opposition protests. However, the programme went on and concluded at around 4.15 pm, local police report said.

A day earlier, opposition parties had decided to bar PM Bhattarai from entering the district and declared a shutdown in the area until 4 pm. The parties had launched their anti-government protests from Dailekh on Saturday. Apart from their protests, journalists and local people also organised protests for days against Bhattarai's order to the police and the public prosecutors to stop investigation into the murder of journalist Dekendra Thapa. nepalnews.com