Cadres of the UCPN (Maoist) and the breakaway CPN-Maoist engaged in a violent confrontation in Chitwan over the ownership of the party office located at Krishna Nagar.

The clash started after a group of UCPN (M) cadres arrived at the office, which is controlled by the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist for the past few days, and asked the latter to evacuate the building. Baidya's cadres apparently refused to leave the office building and their verbal exchanges culminated into physical violence.

At least ten people were injured in the clash from both sides, local reports said. Some half a dozen injured persons have been hospitalised.

Dispute over the control of party offices continues since the split in the Maoist party two weeks ago. In view of possible clashes, UCPN (M) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and breakaway party's general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa had recently agreed to decide the ownership of party offices based on the majority in the concerned committees. nepalnews.com