There are signs that the Prachanda-Baburam rift is affecting the lower rank and file in the rebel movement. Senior sources in the Maoist eastern command confirm former Maoist student leader Debendra Parajuli and Maoist women's association Secretary Kalpana Dhamala are being tortured under Maoist detention at an undisclosed location in eastern Nepal. The reason seems to be a difference of opinion with political commissar and central committee member Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal). The two youth leaders seem to have become victims of the latest trend within the Maoist fold to sideline supporters of Baburam Bhattarai. Officially, they have been charged with divulging party secrets and on suspicion of being involved in the arrest of senior party leaders in India last year. Parajuli and Dhamala had been critical of Badal for the military setbacks that the Maoists have faced in the east in the past year, according to the source. Another politbureau member in charge of external relations, Dina Nath Sharma has also been forced to resign from his post for his suspected role in the arrest of 11 senior leaders in Patna last year.

Baburam's blames Prachanda for:

1 Glorifying Prachanda path by making it like Mao Zedong thought
2 Not allowing freedom within the party
3 Blaming him for the arrests of Maoists in India
4 Developing a personality cult
5 Showing 'Rayamajhi' traits by displaying affinity to a feudal king
6 Sidelining everyone else
7 Saying one thing, doing another
8 Indulging in groupism creating factions
9 Putting himself on the same pedestal as Marx, Engels and Mao

Prachanda blames Baburam for:

1 Demolishing the strategic offensive plan
2 Severing links to the party and the people's war
3 Taking revenge against top leadership
4 Suspicious role in the arrest of party leaders in India
5 Looking down on the People's Liberation Army
6 His actions have helped imperialism, expansionism and the royal army
7 Lobbying against the central leadership
8 Questions about integrity and commitment to party ideals
9 Promoting anarchy by raising objections at the wrong time