YCL on Chitwan extortion spree

YCL on Chitwan extortion spree

CHITWAN, AUG 01 -

Not giving two hoots to the election code of conduct that is in place, activists of the Young Communist League ( YCL ), the youth wing of the UCPN (Maoist), is extorting local traders and shopkeepers in Chitwan district.

The Maoist youth wing has even challenged the authorities’ attempts to enforce law and order, while it

took recourse to violence when police arrested six YCL cadres on Tuesday for extorting a businessman in Narayangad.

A big group of YCL workers stormed the Narayangad Area Police Office on Tuesday afternoon and demanded immediate release of their friends—Uttam Gurung, Madhuraj Neupane, Bharat Magar, Manoj Kumar Sherpa, Rabi Parajuli and Bishal Marhattha. TheYCL cadres assaulted officers when the police refused to give in.

Sub-Inspector Hemanta Kumar Singh and Police Constable Manoj Kumar Chauhan were injured in the fracas.

To exert pressure on the police to release their men, the YCLenforced a banda in Chitwan. Marketplaces, educational institutions and transportation remained shut.

YCL activists are demanding at least Rs 5,000 from local traders and shopkeepers for what they called their upcoming district convention.

“There was no need for the police to arrest our friends for demanding Rs 5000 in donation,” said YCL district chairman Ishwor Sapkota.

The YCL leadership has threatened to call an indefinite strike if their cadres are not freed soon.

Meanwhile, the police have obtained court orders to keep the arrested YCL men in custody. “We have started investigations and the suspects will be treated according to the law,” said Superintendent of Police Pradhyuman Karki.