The CPN-UML has accused the Maoists of violating their agreement with the government. The party expressed grave concern over the kidnapping and torture by the Maoists of a UML party worker. On Tuesday, the Maoists abducted the chairman of the UML's Sindhuli-Kathmandu contact forum, Harikrishna Thakuri, from Thali in Kathmandu and severely beat him. Thakuri, who works in a carpet factory, was taken by a group of 15 Maoists to their office in Bauddha to account for a minor argument he had with a colleague, then threatened and beaten to near death.

Another UML worker, Ramkhelwan Mandal from Dhanusha Bisarbhora VDC, was
abducted from his home on Monday night, pressured to switch alliances and tortured. Mandal was released the following morning, says UML Janakpur secretary Shankarnath Sharma Adhikari.

At a midweek meeting, the UML's permanent committee agreed that the Maoists were breaching the code of conduct agreed on at the central level by continuing monetary and food extortion, displaying weapons, and engaging in abduction and torture, despite claiming that the people's courts have been dismantled. The UML urged respect for the code of conduct and demanded action against those responsible for beating up Thakuri. UML central secretariat secretary Amrit Kumar Bohara has asked the Maoist leadership to be more serious and show commitment to strengthening trust between the people and the political parties at a time when the country is moving towards democratic change.