Maoists beat up dairy entrepreneurs Kantipur Report LALITPUR, Sept 16 - Maoist rebels on Saturday beat up dairy entrepreneurs - Herambh Rajbhandari and his son Araniko Rajbhandari—in Lalitpur. Rajbhandari's family members said the duo was beaten up for allegedly not allowing workers at their factory—Nepal Dairy Udhyog-- to form a branch of the Maoist affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation-Revolutionary (ANTUF-R). Eyewitnesses said a group of about 25 cadres led by ANTUF-R central member Ramesh Pant had stormed into the house of Rajbhandari at Hattiban, Lalitpur at around 7.30 this morning. They thrashed Rajbhandari, 74, and his son Araniko, who now oversees the business, calling them 'feudals.' The thrashing has left several bruises in their bodies. Also a former president of Nepal Dairy Association, Rajbhandari is currently undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital. A source close to the family said he had been suffering from high blood pressure and respiratory problems. He has been breathing with the help of a pacemaker for the past few years. The Maoist thrashing has seriously jeopardized his health. Young Rajbhandari is said to have received minor bruises. Eyewitnesses said that the Maoists' attempt to abduct the duo was aborted following requests made by the police. According to chief of Lalitpur District Police Office Madhav Prasad Nepal, the Maoist cadres returned without taking the duo away after police reached an agreement with them to bring the Rajbhandari duo to the Maoist Party Liaison Office at Pulchowk, Sunday morning, for further discussion. The victims could not be contacted despite several attempts. The Maoists, however, refuted the report that they had beaten up the duo. Shalik Ram Jamarkattel, president of the ANTUF-R claimed Rajbhandari had openly challenged his workers that he would allow the formation of all other trade unions except the one affiliated to CPN (Maoist). According to him, Rajbhandari had sacked over 12 employees on Friday and two others on Thursday alleging them of forming ANTUF-R in the factory.