RUKUM, April 19 - Cadres of Maoist youth wing, YCL, thrashed a couple at Pwang VDC-8 here on Saturday accusing the latter of practicing witchcraft.

Dal Bahadur Gharti and his pregnant wife, Devi, were severely beaten by local YCL cadres, Chunlal Gharti and Rajesh Malla, after the locals accused the Gharti couple of casting spell on a local girl, Bishnu Budathoki, who suddenly fell ill Friday night.

The locals also smeared black on the faces of Gharti couple and took them around the village after forcefully making them sign a paper stating that they would take responsibility if something goes wrong with Bishnu. 

Injured Dal Bahadur said, "They (YCL) forced us to concede to the allegation threatening us to drive out from the village."

Meanwhile, YCL member Rajesh Malla said, "We thrashed the couple as they kept changing their statement when we quizzed them."

Due to poor economic condition, injured Gharti couple has not even able to get treatment, neither have they lodged any complaint seeking justice.