The pro-Maoist Magar National Liberation Front (MNLF) has alleged that Nepal Army personnel opened fire at MNLF militia who were sleeping at the Tansen Municipality office Sunday night, injuring one of them.

Holding a press conference in Tansen on Monday, coordinator of MNLF, Santosh Budha Magar, claimed that the NA men opened fire from the Tundikhel area targeting 60 MNLF militias, who were sleeping in the Tansen Municipality office after attending MNLF’s convention last night.

Budha said the incident was a conspiracy to foil the ongoing peace process.

He also asked the government to immediately investigate the incident and take action against the culprits.

CPN-Maoist leader Suresh Ale Magar said incidents like these, when the peace process was on, does not augur well for the nation.

Activists of Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) staged a sit-in at the gate of District Administration Office, Palpa, on Monday demanding a probe into the firing at the Maoist.

The traffic movement of the area was affected on Monday due to the chhaka jam (transportation strike) called by the fraternal organizations of the Maoists in protest of the incident.

Meanwhile, reports quoted company commander of Rana Bam Company of Nepal Army situated at Tansen, Pushpa Oli as saying that the armymen did not open fire at anyone last night.

Refuting the Maoists’ allegations, Oli said, “Nepal Army has not opened fire at anyone. This is merely propaganda to hit army’s image.”