Death threat rattles Maoists in Nepal

In a sign of growing factionalism, a group of disgruntled party workers planned to murder vice chairman of Nepal's ruling Maoist party Baburam Bhattarai on Monday. Utpal Parashar reports..

Updated on: May 18, 2011, 24:26:54 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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In a sign of growing factionalism, a group of disgruntled party workers planned to murder vice chairman of Nepal's ruling Maoist party Baburam Bhattarai on Monday.

Bhattarai was meeting a group of visiting Indian journalists at the party headquarters in Kathmandu when some party workers allegedly close to party chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal plotted to kill him.

The plan came to light when a leader belonging to a faction of the party's trade union called up associates and told them to "finish off" the senior leader.

Reports say Bhattarai's aides and security personnel who overheard the conversation foiled the bid and alerted him.

Bhattarai later complained about the incident to party secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and also requested home minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara for adequate security.

In a statement on Tuesday, Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma confirmed the murder plan and censured the attempt. He said appropriate action would be initiated against the plotters.

Hundreds of workers close to Bhattarai staged a demonstration outside the party headquarters for an hour on Tuesday demanding more security for the leader and action against the culprits.

Enmity among factions of the dissolved All Nepal Trade Union Federation, the party’s trade union, owing allegiance to Dahal, Bhattarai and another vice chairman Mohan Baidya is said to be reason for current feud.

There have been frequent clashes between these factions and the Dahal group holds Bhattarai responsible for arrest of one of their leaders on charges of attacking a pro-Bhattarai aide earlier this month.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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