Voters and Journalists Report Intimidation by Political Youth Wing in Jhapa-5 Election Ground Zero

Damak. Residents of Chomlung Chowk in Kamal Rural Municipality-6, Jhapa, are living in fear of potential attacks. Last Wednesday evening, hundreds of youths in more than three dozen vehicles entered the intersection alongside CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. During this time, they questioned local young women eating 'chatpate' (a local snack) at a small shop, asking, "Whom will you vote for?"

Although they expected the women to chant slogans for the 'Sun' (UML symbol), the women replied, "For the Bell" (Rastriya Swatantra Party symbol). Following this, the youths became agitated and started arguing and confronting the women. They then attacked journalist Arjun Acharya, who was present to film the scene.

Rita Dhimal, the shop owner who witnessed the incident, is still scared. She vividly recalls the moment when members of the UML-affiliated Youth Volunteers swooped in to attack them and the journalist was beaten.

"Some sisters had come here to eat chatpate. When the young men who came asking for votes asked whom they would vote for, they answered, 'For the Bell.' After that, the UML youths left after hurling abuses. The fight started when they made obscene gestures and pointed fingers. As the journalist brother was recording the video, they dragged him and put him in a vehicle. We are working people, so we are naturally scared; we fear they might do something later," she said.

Pushpa Rai, an eyewitness to the incident, described the attack: "There was a beating for about 5-10 minutes. Six or seven people surrounded and hit the journalist brother. They snatched his mobile, demanding he delete the video. Since the mobile was locked, he couldn't delete it, so they beat him on the road. Even when the journalist pleaded for help, no one could save him; everyone was preoccupied with their own business."

Elderly Bedamaya Mukhiya said, "I saw it from above, how they dragged and beat the journalist brother. When we went over asking why they were beating someone, they didn't listen to anyone. If those asking for votes are going around beating people, how can we be safe?"

Other journalists reporting in Gauriganj Rural Municipality also reported being verbally abused by cadres of the UML's Youth Volunteers. "We just didn't want to make it a public issue. There was an attempt to attack us too," said one journalist.

Local Bishnu Shrestha questioned the behavior of the political parties. He expressed dissatisfaction that those seeking votes were using intimidation instead of humility. "Votes should be sought with affection, with folded hands! How can you get votes by threatening and pointing fingers at the public? Beating a journalist like this is too much. They should realize their mistake and apologize to the public, but instead, they are being protected," he said.

Local Dhanu Shrestha said, "They are threatening voters, saying 'Vote for us, or else we will do this.' Trying to assault young women and brutally beating a journalist is not right. In such an insecure environment, how can we vote freely?"

Local Mahendra Basnet stated that fear has spread in the village since that day. "We feel extremely insecure in the village. If this happens to a journalist, we ordinary people live in fear of when and where we might be beaten. The right of a voter to vote voluntarily has been blatantly violated here. The entire village is shaken; everyone is scared," he said.

The fact that the attackers are roaming freely and the journalist's mobile phone has not been returned long after the incident has raised doubts about the role of the local administration. Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli publicly stated on Friday that there was a situation of insecurity. But, given the attack carried out by the squad moving around him, how insecure the voters of Jhapa-5 must feel is beyond estimation.

Security sources also indicated that the CPN-UML's Volunteer Force is in a position to do anything if the results do not turn out in their favor. The source claimed that high vigilance has been maintained for this purpose. Kishor Lamsal, the police chief at the Damak Area Police Office, however, stated that the security environment is strong and that voters can cast their ballots without hindrance.

Other journalists reporting in Gauriganj Rural Municipality also stated that they were verbally abused by cadres of the UML's Youth Volunteers. "We just didn't want to make it a public issue. There was an attempt to attack us too," said one journalist.

Another journalist was allegedly attacked by members of the Volunteer Force on Friday afternoon. Journalist Uttam Pokhrel, who was in the area collecting news, stated that he learned that the Youth Volunteers were unnecessarily pressuring and threatening the general public.

"We found that they were threatening locals, telling them to delete videos if they posted videos of campaigning for another party on TikTok, Facebook, or any other social media, or else 'anything could happen'," Pokhrel said. "There are many such incidents. They are even going to voters' homes to intimidate them."

Security sources also indicated that the CPN-UML's Volunteer Force is in a position to do anything if the results do not turn out in their favor. The source claimed that high vigilance has been maintained for this purpose. Kishor Lamsal, the police chief at the Damak Area Police Office, however, stated that the security environment is strong and that voters can cast their ballots without hindrance.