Over 200 Maoist cadres quit party
Ahead of their massive protests to topple the coalition government in Nepal, hundreds of Maoist cadres, including combatants, have quit the party due to differences with their top leaders' current policy.
Ahead of their massive protests to topple the coalition government in Nepal, hundreds of Maoist cadres, including combatants, have quit the party due to differences with their top leaders' current policy.
More than 200 Maoist cadres, including Maoist People's Liberation Army Brigade Commander at 7th Division in Kailali Ram Krishna Chaudhari, have quit the party saying that they disfavor the idea of their leaders who see power as the ultimate goal.
Chaudhari said he had quit the party as the Maoists were taking the country to nowhere. Those defecting the party include 44 Maoist combatants.
Ramechhap district commander of the Maoist party Ashish Tamang is among those defecting the party. Others include company commander, battalion commander, section commander, platoon commander and Young Communist League members.
The defecting Maoists have joined Sanghiya Rastriya Lokatantrik Manch, an ethnic organisation of Terai region led by Laxman Tharu.
Meanwhile, police yesterday seized bomb-making materials from a room at Seti Mahakali Hotel in Sundhara of Kathmandu.
The seized materials included 450 liters of petrol, over 1,000 bottles; saw dust and cloth pieces, among others, according to Superintendent of Police of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range.
The materials were enough to make over thousands of petrol bombs that could have caused a big loss to human lives and properties in the capital, according to the police.
The seizure took place hours after Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal instructed police officials to beef up security in the capital in the wake of Maoists' protests.
Ajay Pandey, the owner of the guesthouse who was detained for investigation, told the police that two persons had booked a room on Wednesday and brought the sacks next morning.
The police have also seized a large number of sticks and knives from public vehicles in Dhankuta and Sarlahi in southern Nepal yesterday.
The Maoists have stepped up training to their cadres carrying khukuri and sticks in various parts of the country to prepare for their agitation tomorrow.
In the capital, hundreds of Maoist cadres wearing red shirts are seen doing March pass ahead of their protests.
Meanwhile, the envoys of European Union have asked the Maoists to withdraw their protests, as it could turn violent.
French Ambassador to Nepal Gilles Henry Garault, who met Maoist chief Prachanda, said the country would plunge into crisis if consensus were not sought immediately.
