Two Maoist cadres arrested while opposing poll; PD Dahal for holding election at any cost

KATHMANDU: Few days after the Election Commission has asked the government to control anti-election campaign run by different political parties, the government started taking tough action against those involved in anti-election campaign.

Two CPN-Maoist cadres were taken into police custody on Tuesday afternoon for their involvement in anti-election wall graffiti. Those arrested are Shyam Bajracharya of Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur and Srijana Kiranti of Solukhumbu.

They were taken into custody after they did not heed to the repeated request to stop writing wall graffiti calling for a boycott of the CA elections at the roadside wall in front of Hotel Himalaya this afternoon, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Ram Dutta Joshi.

Meanwhile, the CPN-Maoist Lalitpur has said that seven cadres escaped the baton charge by police and came to its contact. Following the incident, the Kupandole-Pulchowk road remained tensed and blocked traffic for half hour. The alliance of 33-political parties led by CPN-Maoist has been organizing various programs to disrupt the election. The government’s effort to convince agitating parties is yet to bear any fruit.

Addressing a condolence meeting to pay tributes to founder member of Nepal Communist Party Nar Bahadur Karmacharya in the capital on Tuesday, the UCPN-Maoist Chief said that the CA election would be held at any cost as it is necessity to safeguard country’s national prestige and empower citizens.

“Efforts are being made to deinstitutionalize the achievements of people’s war and people’s movement. So election should be made successful at any expense. In this campaign, unity of nationalist and communist forces is necessary,” he added.

Dahal who is also the coordinator of the High-Level Political Committee said that maximum efforts would be made to bring the agitating parties on board electoral process.