RAJBIRAJ-The Janatantrik Terai Liberation Front (JTLF), a Maoist splinter group, has been increasingly involved in killings, abductions and extortion, which is spreading terror in the tarai. JTLF activists, who consider the Pahadis (hill migrants living in the terai) their main enemy, have even started to target Madhesis. Bijay Jha and Mahendra P Yadab were shot dead in cold blood on 5 July in Chinnamasta VDC while returning from a village party. Now, locals and Maoists have joined hands to avenge the killings. The next day, the two groups protested in Saptari with the corpses of the two youths and hundreds of people participated.

Maoist acting district secretary Bimal and people's government chief Umesh Kumar Yadab called the victims their activists and declared them martyrs. They accused the JTLF of intensifying violent activities with the support of the administration and vowed that they would avenge the killings. JTLF eastern commander Jwala Singh said by phone that the youths were killed trying to escape JTLF activists who had accused them of spying on their activities. He claimed that the JTLF seized two homemade pistols, ammunition and a khukuri from the Maoists. But local residents denied that. They said the youths had been feuding with JTLF district coordinator Ranabir Singh, who lives in Chinnamasta VDC, and had a dispute with the leader of a temple committee over the use of temple funds.

The JTLF is already showing signs of internal unrest. Some members are unhappy over the killings and statements made by Singh. District level worker Bibek, whose group is actively involved in abduction and extortion, claimed that the party didn't carry out the killings, which were merely the result of a personal feud. Only a few months ago, central co-ordinator Jaya Krishna Goit took action against district in-charge DN Singh, coordinator Lal and area secretary Harishchandar. The Madhesi intelligentsia largely supports the JTLF's activities, which have continued in Siraha despite the ongoing peace process. But the president of the Nepal Janawadi Morcha, senior pro-republican leader Ramraja Prasad Singh, said that the JTLF will not be able to liberate the Madhesi people if they continue their violent ways. He appealed for an end to criminal activities done in the name of liberating the tarai people. Local rights activists say the JTLF's activities have only served to aggravate communal tensions.