Kathmandu: Annoyed over the forced replacement of Indian priests at the world famous temple of Pashupatinath, a delegation of eminent Nepalese Hindu leaders met President Ram Baran Yadav to seek his intervention.

A team of local Bhandaris and civil society members led by Suprabha Ghimire, Member, Nepali Congress Constituent Assembly, yesterday met the President.

According to a member of the delegation, they registered their annoyance over the Maoists intervention in the age-old tradition and ritual affairs of the holy Temple with Yadav.

"President Yadav has taken our complaint positively," he said.

The President also said that it was inappropriate on the part of the Maoists to interfere in the religious matters and he assured us that he will take up the matter with Prime Minister Prachanda, another Bhandari, who visited the President said.

Meanwhile, the 108 Bhandaris, who have been assisting the Indian priests at the Pashupatinath Temple, have boycotted the work as a mark of protest against the Maoists intervention.

Meanwhile, members of the YCL beat up an elderly man at the temple after he expressed discontent over the issue of interference by Maoists in the religious matters and handed him over to the police, an eye-witness said.

In the wake of the incident, government has deployed hundreds of riot-control police personnel at the holy shrine.
Source : PTI