Kathmandu, August 20
Police on Saturday midnight have arrested two local leaders of CPN-UML and an Election Commission staffer for registering new voters even after the expiry of deadline set by the constitutional body.
UML Budhanilakantha Municipality Committee chief Deepak Niraula and another leader, Rajendra Sapkota, have been arrested along with the staffer Aakrit Khatri.
Sapkota has been elected the chair of Ward 9 of the Municipality in May polls whereas Khatri is learnt to be a nephew of local UML leader Arjun Khatri. He was recruited on the contract basis upon a recommendation from the Municipality.
The Commission had set the deadline of Saturday to register new voters, but it was found that Khatri was registering new voters at houses of UML leaders around midnight.
After locals complained of the irregularity, a team from the Metropolitan Police Circle had arrested them.
Kathmandu District Election Officer Chandra Gautam says the incident was sad.
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Gagan Thapa demands investigation
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa has demanded that a fair investigation be conducted into the case, claiming the incident raised questions over purity of elections.
Speaking at the Parliament meeting today, Thapa said it was found that not only a particular party, but the Election Commission itself was involved in the incident, and demanded action against the guilty after a fair probe.
Meanwhile, other political parties in the city have padlocked the Municipality Office after the incident.
(Updated)
