Four Set Free from Maoist Custody in Bhaktapur

THT Online

Kathmandu, November 2 A team of National Monitoring Committee on Code of Conduct for Ceasefire (NMCC) on Wednesday got the safe release of four civilians from Maoist custody in Bhaktapur. All of them were taken into Maoist custody on charges of hooliganism, possessing illegal arms and raising money posing as Maoists. The Maoists had detained all the four in a warehouse of an old carpet factory near Brighter Tooth Paste in Bhaktapur. The Maoists released the abductees in the presence of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) officials, the NHRC said in a statement, adding that the four were handed over to their families. The team led by NMCC member duo Taranath Dahal and Padam Lal Biswokarma on Wednesday visited the warehouse and set them free them from captivity. They had visited the place acting on a tip-off. The victims who were set free by the NMCC team were found to have been severely beaten up and blindfolded while in Maoist detention. Those released are Shyam Dahal of Maitidevi, Rajendra Man Shrestha of Gyaneshwor, Biswa Ram Maka of Bhaktapur and Daba Lama, a Nepali Congress cadre from Sindhupalchowk. After being brought to the Babarmahal-based NMCC office, NMCC member Dahal told reporters that they found the four persons blindfolded when they visited the warehouse-turned Maoist custody. Dahal said the local Maoists who were guarding the warehouse did not initially allow them to visit the place. But they managed to set them free after they contacted Maoist leaders and the local Maoist cadres cooperated with them. Dahal said that they, however, could not set free the fifth one named Subirman Singh Basnet running a poultry firm at Sitapaila, Kathmandu. A Maoist cadre said they had arrested him on charges of possessing a country-made pistol. Basnet admitted to possessing the pistol for his personal safety, according to Dahal. --- The kathmanduites are at last getting the same medicine the maobadboyz dished-out for 10 years in the countryside - kind of forced-learning by experience! All the huaghtiness and scorn of the King-hating media have now disapeared and nobody feels safe - first time in the Valley! Ah, such a lack of imagination - did they thought the blood-thirsty leopard will change spots and become children-friendly labrador?