http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2001/may/may15/loc al.htm#1 Maoists intensify activities in Parsa Post Report BIRGUNJ, May 14 - Maoist insurgents have increased their activities in Parsa district where they were not active until six months ago. They are running a parallel government in nearly a dozen villages located in the far west and north of Parsa district, according to local people. A large number of police personnel present there were merely silent spectators to different activities of the Maoists, they claim. The striking force is located in Nirmalbasti VDC but Maoist insurgents who have warned the police not to annoy them are carrying out various activities only about 200 to 300 metres away from the striking force. Maoists play cassettes and hold mass meeting, but the police are afraid to go and see what is happening there, a resident of Nirmalbasti VDC said. A big banner has been put up there by Maoist insurgents and it is still intact over the last 15 days. Similar activities of the Maoists are also going on in the neighbouring VDC of Thori where there is an Ilaka Police Office consisting of 30 to 40 police staff, people claim. According to local people, police are pretending not to see the Maoist activities as they fear retaliation. SP Arjun Jung Shahi said a large number of police personnel were stationed there as requested by the local people to protect the Nepalese from the Indian dacoits who harass, kidnap and loot the Nepalese people in the border VDCs. He added that he had ordered the police to remove the Maoist banner after he came to hear about this. According to local people Maoists are running their government in a dozen different villages including Bagbanna, Biruwagudhi, Madhubani, Marthol, Harpur, Thori, Nirmalbasti and Subarnapur. They settle local people's disputes. They have warned people not to contest in the coming election. It is their government in the village where things are going on as they wish, a villager said requesting anonymity.
