“They severely thrashed two of our friends, looted five motorbikes, cooking utensils and clothes from Balaju industrial area,” said union leader Badri Chapagain from Bajgain faction.[break]
“Jammakattel sent goons to beat up our comrades,” he added. The union members beaten by Jamakattel faction are Dhan Bahadur Roka and Krishna Shrestha.
The incident took place after the Bajagain faction held a rally against the agreement signed by Jammakattel with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) on pay hike. The Bajgain faction has accused Jammakattel of signing the agreement against workers´ interests.
According to Chapagain, union leaders from Bajgain faction, Ganesh Regmi, Jagat Simkhada, Dhan Bahadur Bishwakarma, Madhav Pande and Bhim Bahadur Regmi were involved in the beating.
Talking to Republica, Badri Bajgain said his faction is prepared to counter the “unruly” activities of Jammakattel. He also accused Jammakattel of sellout. “He has been threatening our comrades in collusion with the factory owners. We will strongly counter his move,” he said.
Jammakattel faction, however, denied having beaten any union activists.
Bajgain faction has held general secretary of the Maoist All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) Ganesh Regmi responsible for the incident. However, Regmi said the clash ensued after workers opposed the Bajgain faction´s call for shutdown of the factories.
“I am not aware of it. It may be propaganda of some union deserters,” said Jammakattel.
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