Kathmandu - At least one person was killed and several hurt
in escalating pre-election violence in Nepal between rival political
parties, media reports said Wednesday.
A Maoist cadre was killed after clashing with Nepali Congress
party activists in Solukhumbhu district, 200 kilometres north-east of
the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.
The clash erupted after the two rival parties gathered at the same
venue to hold election campaign rallies, the independent Kantipur
Television reported.
At least 25 people, including a senior Nepali Congress leader and
Maoist supporters, were injured in the clash.
The Maoists have accused security forces of opening fire on Maoist
cadres to start the clash.
The Maoists have announced an indefinite strike in the district to
protest the killing.
The death came in a day of escalating clashes between Maoists and
political workers of other parties.
In Sindhupalchowk district bordering Kathmandu, Maoists attacked
an election programme of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party and abducted
eight activists, the television report said. About a dozen people
were injured.
Earlier this week, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN)
singled out the Maoists for increasing violence against other parties
in the run-up to the elections.
The UN report said there was growing evidence of action by Maoist
cadres, including members of the Young Communist League, to restrict
in various ways freedom of assembly of other parties in several
districts.
The latest death brings the total number of people killed in
pre-election violence to at least five. Over 150 people have been
injured.
Nepal goes to the polls to choose a constituent assembly on April
10.
The election is a key component of the peace agreement between the
government and the Maoists that ended a decade-long insurgency.
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