Nepali Congress claims Maoists attacked party leaders

The Nepali Congress today accused UCPN-Maoist cadres of attacking its youth leader and abducting an ex-Maoist who had defected to the party.
The NC condemned yesterday's attack on the party's youth leader and central committee member Gagan Thapa and its cadres in Rukum district, a Maoist stronghold.
Maoist cadres had reportedly attacked Thapa after an assembly at Garayala village of Rukum yesterday.
The party claimed that the Maoists pelted stones at the vehicle in which Thapa and other leaders were on board.
The party has also accused the Maoists of abducting Jeevan Khatrichhetri, a former Maoist who had defected from UCPN-Maoist and joined the Nepali Congress.

In a statement, Chief Secretary at the party's central office Chin Kaji Shrestha has claimed that the UCPN-Maoist abducted Khatrichhetri who had formally joined the Nepali Congress yesterday.

He has been missing since shortly after joining the NC.
The NC described the attack as premeditated, offensive and violent activity that left scores of its cadres hurt.
The party further urged the authorities to take action to free Khatrichhetri from Maoist clutches and book the culprits.
The NC has accused the police of showing indifferent attitude towards the incidents though they were aware of the possible attack by the Maoist cadres.