District Police Office, Rukum, today filed a public offence case against 19 cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist, including 15-year-old Purnajung Khadka for their involvement in anti-election activities. Police had arrested the cadres from Aathabiskot Rural Municipality of the district while they were launching anti-election activities on May 1. All the arrested have been kept in the DPO’s custody. DSP Angur GC of the DPO said the arrested were plotting to disrupt the upcoming local level elections. Meanwhile, Purnajung’s father Chandra Bahadur Khadka has requested help from human rights agencies and mediapersons, among others, for his son’s release. Purnajung is a ninth grader at Musikot-based Tribhuvan Janata High School. Chandra Bahadur, who was also held along with his son, claimed that his minor son’s arrest was illegal. The other arrested persons have been identified as the Chand-led Maoist District Secretary Chandra Bahadur Budha, Rapti Bureau member Gambir Sirpali and teacher Hari Bishnu Oli of Mushikot Multiple Campus, among others. Police had earlier released six other cadres. Police said the cadres of Chand-led CPN Maoist had organised a programme and started anti-poll activities in Khalanga some days ago. Police added that the cadres had also painted walls and distributed pamphlets with anti-poll information in the district. Meanwhile, Chand-led Maoist district in-charge Sher Bahadur Khadka said police had arrested his party cadres while they were protesting peacefully. He demanded that police release the cadres immediately. विप्लव माओवादीका १९ नेता कार्यकर्ताविरुद्ध प्रहरीले सार्वजनिक मुद्दा दर्ता गरेको छ । वैशाख १९ गते बिहान जिल्ला सेक्रेटरी चन्द्रबहादुर बुढासहित नेता–कार्यकर्तालाई स्थानीय चुनाव बिथोल्न खोजेको आरोपमा पक्राउ गरिएको हो । आठबिसकोट नगरपालिकाको राडीबजारबाट २४ र मुसिकोट नगरपालिकाबाट १ गरी २५ जना पक्राउ परे पनि अन्य ६ जनालाई भने छाडिएको छ ।