Maoists intensify donation drive
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Aug 4 - Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students' Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), has been demanding huge sums of money -- voluntary donations as they call it -- from educational institutions in Rupandehi district.
Since the last one week, rebels have been issuing circulars and visiting several institutions personally, demanding huge sums of money. According to a source, the rebels' demands vary according to the institution's level and strength of students. "ANNISU-R has planned to collect more than three million rupees from Rupandehi district alone," a source said.
According to principals of several institutions, the rebels have demanded 1,200 to 2,400 rupees per student from higher secondary level schools and 200-500 rupees per student from secondary level schools.
Likewise, in Pyuthan, Maoists have continued forced donation drives in several villages. According to locals, the rebels have made their donation campaigns "even more systematic" than it was prior to the ceasefire. The Maoist formed 'United revolutionary peoples' council' has recently issued a release stating that the rebels "will collect taxes in a systematic way", till the government makes necessary arrangements for their full-timer cadres. The Maoist organization has given the responsibility of collecting "taxes" in the district to its district member Sitaram KC, according to a source.
Meanwhile, in Dharan Maoists Tuesday abducted one Raj Shakya, 20, of Langhali Chowk, Dharan-8, accusing him of collecting donations from civilians posing as a rebel cadre. Also, the rebels, led by "Peoples' Liberation Army "town commander" Kiran, beat up a local tractor driver Dil Bahadur Katuwal and truck handyman Ranjeet Rai, who were with Shakya. The rebels handed over Katuwal and Rai to a police patrol, but abducted Shakya for "investigation", according to police Inspector Bhim Bhandari.
Likewise, in Lahan, three armed Maoists Thursday afternoon seized a motorcycle (Sa 1 Pa 5657) belonging to former vice-mayor of Lahan Municipality, Sagar Lal Chaudhary from the latter's house in Lahan-1. Chaudhary was vice-mayor during the royal regime.
Posted on: 2006-08-03 21:54:21 (Server Time)
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