RUKUM: Over a dozen cadres of CPN Maoist party led by Netra Bikram Chand, who were detained by police more than a month ago for anti-election activities, have taken to hunger strike in custody in Rukum. Citing their anti-election activities in the run-up to the first phase of local elections on May 14, police had nabbed the Maoist party’s district Secretary Chandra Bahadur Budhathoki and 19 others on May 2.

They started a hunger strike while in detention on Thursday evening, accusing the state of keeping them in detention unnecessarily for a long time. The detained Maoist cadres were incensed particularly after the police administration took them in custody no sooner had the district court freed them on a bail amount of Rs 5,000 each earlier. DSP Angur GC of District Police Office said he has informed the higher authorities about the hunger strike.