[2 July 2005]
Maoists continue to target civilians
Even after three weeks of their top leader’s call not to target unarmed civilians and political activists, Maoist insurgents continue their atrocities, reports say.
According to Kantipur daily, a group of insurgents shot dead a veterinary doctor, his assistant and an Indian national at Kothiya Gaon in mid-western district of Bardiya Friday. A group of armed insurgents, who had arrived on bicycles, shot veterinary doctor Janardan Acharya, peon Madhav Poudel and an Indian cattle merchant Anuwar Khan without provocation. Dr. Acharya was inspecting animals brought for sales in the local market. Another Indian cattle merchant, Mazar Musalman, who was seriously injured in the attack, has been taken to Nepalgunj for treatment.
Maoists did not give any reason for the attack.
In a separate incident, Maoist insurgents killed 50-year-old Jit Bahadur Sreesh, a resident of Bisukharka VDC in western district of Gulmi. His badly mutilated body was recovered at a local bus park at Shantipur bazaar on Friday morning.
The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) said Friday that the insurgents have killed nearly two dozen civilians over the last three weeks.
In response to a call by seven opposition parties to give up violence and to create an environment of trust, Maoist chairman Prachanda said on June 7 that he had asked his cadres not to target unarmed civilians and political activists with immediate effects.
But analysts say continued killing spree by Maoist cadres at the local level shows loosening control of the leadership over the movement and what they call ‘increasing criminalisation in the rank and file of the underground outfit.
nepalnews.com by July 02 05