One killed, several injured in pre-poll violence in Nepal

Mar 26, 2008, 11:29 GMT

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.