RUKUM, April 22 - At least 22 Nepali Congress (NC) workers have been displaced from their villages in Rukum district after the CA election due to threats issued by Maoists in the district, Nepali Congress has said.

Issuing a statement on Monday, NC district committee said 22 of its supporters were forced to leave their villages after Maoists threatened them with strong action.

“Blaming them for actively supporting the party during election, Maoist cadres threatened to take stringent physical action against the NC men,” read a statement signed by NC district vice president, Mukunda Khatri.

The NC further claimed that Maoists extorted 10,000 rupees each from Sam Bahadur Gharti, Pal Prasad Gharti and Daljit Pun of

Hukam VDC as a penalty for supporting NC in the election.

Those evicted from their homes include NC general convention member Til Bahadur Gharti and eight others, said the statement.

However, Maoist district in-charge Purna Gharti refuted the allegations and said Maoists were ready to work with other parties to solve the problems in the district.