Nearly eight hundred people, mostly families of security personnel demonstrated at the District Administration Office (DAO) Darchula on Wednesday in a bid to create pressure on the government to declare a ceasefire after Maoists warned the families of security personnel of dire consequences if their kin continues jobs in security forces, a report on Friday said.

They organized sit in program in front of the DAO and chanted slogans asking the government to declare ceasefire immediately, not to kill their families and to create conducive environment for returning home.

They submitted a memorandum to Chief District Officer (CDO) after the sit-in program of nearly three hours.

Kantipur daily quoted Hara Singh Dhami of Shankapur as saying that the Maoists has been asking them to participate in various activities and also pressurizing the families of the security personnel to ask their kin to quit the job. “They even warned to lock the houses after evacuating family members if they did not quit their job,” he added.

The Maoists also pressurized the civilians of Marma, Duhu and Lekam area to go to the district headquarters along with the placards with their slogans and even warned of strong action to those who defy the order.

However CDO Lok Raj Regmi said that it is inappropriate to come to the district headquarter following the pressure of the Maoists.

He agreed with the demand of the locals to declare ceasefire and said that he had informed Home Ministry about the incident.