At least twenty eight people have been killed in a clash between the activists of Maoist affiliated Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha and activists of Madhesi Janaadhikari Forum (MJF) in Gaur of Rautahat district on Wednesday afternoon.
According to a report, the police have recovered twelve bodies from Gaur and the same number of bodies from Hajmaniya VDC of the district. More than forty injured people are undergoing treatment in the hospitals of Bharatpur.
The incident had taken place on Wednesday afternoon at the Rice Mills ground of Gaur where both parties had planned to hold their separate mass meetings. CPN- Maoist lawmaker Prabhu Shah and MJF chairman Upendra Yadav were scheduled to address their respective mass meetings.
Stating that their program was scheduled earlier than the Maoist, the MJF activists had vandalized the podium erected by the Morcha. Later, the Morcha activists entered the ground after rally and also vandalized the MJF's podium. Both sides had constructed their podiums at a distance of around 100 meters.
The incident turned violent as both sides opened fire at each other indiscriminately.
The local District Administration Office (DAO) of Rautahat has imposed indefinite curfew from 9 am Thursday to contain the tension. The DAO had imposed curfew from 2.45 pm to 4.00 am Thursday in Gaur and its vicinity.
MJF's vice president Kishore Kumar Bishwas has been quoted as saying that the incident occurred after the Maoist activists tried to disrupt their pre-planned program.
On the other hand, Prabhu Shah, general secretary of Maoist-affiliated Morcha has claimed that majority of those killed in the incident were common people. MP of the interim parliament Shah told media that five of the dead were members of Young Communist League (YCL) while seven were Morcha activists.
Most of those killed are said to be Maoists but the report is yet to be confirmed independently.
OHCHR-Nepal condemns killings in Rautahat
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) has condemned the violence that occurred on Wednesday between supporters of the Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum and CPN-M in Gaur, Rautahat District.
According to an immediate press release issued by OHCHR-Nepal, a team of OHCHR human rights officers is in Gaur investigating the incidents, including the causes of death.
"Hospital sources indicated that at least some victims died as a result of head injuries caused by beatings with bamboo lathis," said the release.
Lena Sundh, Head of OHCHR- Nepal, has called on the leaders of the Forum and CPN-M at central and local levels to immediately take steps to end such unacceptable violence.
"OHCHR also urges authorities to take all necessary steps to investigate the killings and other violent incidents and to hold accountable anyone found to be responsible,” Sundh said.
The eight parties meeting held on Wednesday has already decided to investigate the incident condemning the use of weapons.
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