KATMANDU, Nepal (AFP)--Protesters in Katmandu burned tires and smashed car windows Wednesday to protest the deaths of two young men who were allegedly abducted by the youth wing of Nepal's ruling Maoists.
The Maoists, who were formerly rebel insurgents, now run the country after winning elections in May.
Their Young Communist League, or YCL, has been accused of extorting money and threatening opponents. The group has denied involvement in the two men's deaths.
"There were protests in at least five places where students and young people burned tires and vandalized vehicles," said police officer Mohan Man Singh Bohara.
"They were protesting against the YCL after the deaths of the two people were reported in today's newspapers," the Katmandu police officer said.
The decomposing bodies of 22-year-old Nirmal Panta and 24-year-old Pushkar Dangol were found in a shallow grave in a district neighboring Katmandu on Tuesday, a month after they were allegedly taken by the YCL, local media reported.
"Relatives identified the two victims and their bodies have been taken back to Katmandu for further investigation," said Shyam Prasad Poudel, a police officer from Dhading district, 30 kilometers west of the capital.
"We do not know the cause of death or who killed them," Poudel said.
The head of the Maoist youth wing, Ganesh Man Pun, denied his organization had anything to do with the deaths.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 19, 2008 03:10 ET (08:10 GMT)

Publié le 19 novembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones