Hari Lal BK, a district-level leader of Dalit wing of the UCPN (Maoist), his wife, and two others arrived at Baitadi district headquarters from Kuwakot VDC on Saturday night. [break]
They said Dahal´s supporters led by Constituent Assembly member Narendra Kunwar attacked them. Kunwar, who is also a member of the Maoist Seti-Mahakali State Committee, and his supporters had allegedly beaten up Bhattarai supporters in the village last week when Dahal faction in Kathmandu was discussing disciplinary action against Bhattarai for speaking in public against the party line.
“They [Kunwar and his supporters] mercilessly beat up my elder brother [Hari Lal] and sister-in-law, accusing them of not supporting them,” said Rangi BK, who also fled the village with Hari Lal following the incident over the phone from Baitadi.
Hari Lal´s wife is six-month pregnant.
Kunwar had allegedly detained Hari Lal and his wife for three days and they later escaped. Also a few days ago, Kunwar and his supporters had beaten up Bhattarai supporters seriously in the same village, accusing them of not supporting the former. Two of the injured are being treated at the district hospital while two others have been taken to India for treatment.
Sher Bahadur Chand, a local representative of rights group Insec, said the displaced Maoist leaders and cadres have filed a plea at Insec seeking protection.
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