UCPN (M) leader Kirati, a former lawmaker from Bhojpur-2, was arrested along with Nepali Congress District Secretary Hemant Mukarung and CPN-ML District Secretary Anil Basnet after a complaint was filed accusing the political leaders of manhandling Sangpang and Deurali VDC Secretary Khadga Poudel at the District Development Committee Office on Monday afternoon.

The complaint states that the accused leaders summoned Poudel to clarify about the alleged irregularities in Sangpang and Deurali VDCs and physically assaulted him.

The accused have charged secretary Poudel, also the CPN-UML district deputy secretary, of using his political influence to conduct anomalies in the VDCs. They have denied assaulting Poudel and claim that they slapped him after he refused to clarify and instead retaliated against them.

Meanwhile, Bhojpur Bazaar has remained tense after the arrest of the three leaders. Party cadres chanted slogans against the arrest and the market area has remained shut since Wednesday morning.

After the assault, Poudel has been receiving treatment at the district hospital for his injuries.

The relation between the leaders is understood to have become strained over the inauguration of municipality office of recently announced Dila Sadananda Municipality. NC and Maoist have accused UML of working in unilateral manner to inaugurate and operate the daily activities in the municipality.