The political party representatives barged into the covered hall and tore apart the ballot papers at 11:44 pm. The Chief Election Official’s Office issued a notice announcing the postponement of the count of ballot papers for indefinite period following the incident.

Chief Election Officer, Kavi Prasad Neupane, said the party cadres shredded the ballot papers when he had left for the rest room. The number of ballot papers that were shredded is yet to be determined.

The CPN (UML) has accused CPN (Maoist Centre) cadres of shredding the ballot papers. The Maoist Centre also accuses UML cadres of tearing up the papers. The police have detained three persons for tearing up ballot papers and manhandling police.

District Police Office, Chitwan’s Superintendent of Police (SP), Deepak Thapa, said the police arrested Maoist Centre cadres Dron Babu Shiwakoti and Ishwor Sapkota and UML’s Gangalal Lama.

The police even resorted to lathy – charge after party cadres started moving towards the covered hall after getting tipped off on the incident taking place inside. CPN (UML) mayoral candidate Devi Prasad Gyawali is 755 votes ahead of Maoist Centre candidate Renu Dahal. RSS