Kathmandu: At least three people, including a candidate, have been killed in pre-poll violence in Nepal as the Himalayan nation geared up for the crucial April 10 Constituent Assembly elections.

In the latest poll related incidents two Maoist district leaders Tek Bahadur Budha and Bhakta Bahadur BK were shot dead in Rolpa district on Tuesday night, a statement issued by CPN-Maoist said.

Rolpa is known as the epicentre of decade long Maoist insurgency, from where Prachanda has filed his candidacy besides Kathmandu -10 constituency.

An armed group shot dead a candidate belonging to Rastriya Janamorcha, a small leftist party on Tuesday.

Chief Observer of the European Union Election Monitoring Mission to Nepal, Jan Mulder has condemned the incident saying, "EU Observation Mission deplores such incident and I am extremely troubled by this tragic incident."

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has decided to step up security for the candidates. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress has raised serious objection to the attacks and threats targeting its cadres at different places by the Maoists.

The NC has made public about a dozen incidents of attack and intimidation from CPN-Maoist and said that such activities have posed serious threat to the prospects of free and fair polls.

"Such anti-poll activities unleashed by Maoist leaders and cadres, and other armed outfits, have created doubts among people and political parties about timely election," party secretary Prakash Mahat, said during a press conference.

Source : PTI