CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was manhandled by a man as the leader walked through a crowd of his party’s supporters in Mahalaxmi Municipality-5 of Dhankuta on Thursday.

Police said a local named Mahesh Rai attempted to attack the former prime minister and was promptly held by security personnel and youths associated with the National Youth Federation of CPN-UML.

Rajbabu Maharjan, Dhankuta police spokesperson, said Rai was arrested in connection with the incident.

The UML has termed the incident an abnormal behaviour shown by an inebriated man. Rajendra Gautam, chief of UML publicity department, said the way the incident has been portrayed on social media has drawn the party’s serious concern.

Meanwhile, police arrested 18 people campaigning against the Koshi nomenclature of Province 1.

DSP Maharjan said they were arrested from Sidhuwa and Leguwa.

“We detained them in view of maintaining law and order,” said Maharjan.

Top UML leaders including party chief Oli are on a weeks-long march along the Mid-Hill Highway. The journey that was kicked off from Jhulaghat of Baitadi in the far-west on December 1 is scheduled to conclude at Chiwabhanjyang of Panchthar district in the east.

The around 1776 km-long highway runs through 17 hill districts while the country's East-West Highway spans the southern belt from Jhapa to Kanchanpur over 1,000 kilometres.