SIRAHA, Aug 13 : The district police office has initiated action against 28 people arrested in connection with vandalism and arson in Sarshwor VDC, Siraha district last Friday.
According to Inspector Gyan Kumar Mahato, among the 28 arrested, one has been charged with illegal possession of arms, three others are to be tried under the Public Offence Act and the rest have been charged with arson and vandalism. [break]
Mohammad Rahim of Sarshwor-7 and Mohammad Jasim and Mohammad Mustakim Rain of Ward No. 8 have been charged under public offence, informed the district police office. The three face the accusation of teasing women pilgrims from Dhanusha who had come to Sarshwor VDC to pay homage at a local Mahadev temple.
Ram Prasad Mukhiya of Ward No. 1 in the same VDC, who was arrested and found to be carrying a pistol during Friday´s vandalism and looting, has been charged with illegal possession of arms.
A five-point agreement was reached at a joint meeting on Sunday participated by representatives of all the political parties, government officials and the local people. The meeting had agreed to release those arrested without subjecting them to any punishment, deploy a team of the Armed Police Force at the Mahadev temple and provide compensation to families affected by the looting and vandalism. The meeting also decided to provide treatment expenses to the injured.
Chief District Officer (CDO) Anil Kumar Thakur, who was present at the meeting, expressed his approval of the decision taken on the occasion. The meeting was followed by a goodwill rally around the VDC participated by all the party representatives.
Local leaders of the political parties are now accusing the local administration of violating the agreement.
“It is sheer breach of Sunday´s agreement. Instead of releasing those arrested, the administration has proceeded to take action,” said Bijaya Yadav, central member of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Nepal, who had participated in the meeting.
“I request the local administration to respect the agreement and withdraw the cases against those arrested,” he added.
District coordinator of UCPN (Maoist), Ajaya Shakar Nayak, informed that an all-party meeting on Tuesday has decided to give the district administration a deadline to implement the five-point agreement.
As per the decision, the administration should implement the entire agreement by Thursday. “We are taking a ´wait and seen´ policy as we have received a commitment from the district administration,” Nayak said.
Following the teasing incident, 52 houses were looted and 11 set on fire, police informed.
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