Maoists abduct dev worker, loot communications equipment

Maoist insurgents have manhandled a group of journalists, seized their equipment and abducted a development worker in the eastern hilly district of Taplejung, reports said.

According to media reports, a group of armed rebels on Monday manhandled a group of journos who were accompanying a team of Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (RPAP) and seized their equipment worth an estimated Rs 500,000.

The rebels looted a Sony 170 video camera of Upendra Man Singh, a reporter with Kantipur TV; a camera owned by a photographer with The Boss magazine and communications equipment from a media personnel working for Cine Graphics, a private company, from Sikaicha VDC in the district.

They have also abducted Ram Dahal, coordinator of RPAP in Taplejung district. Dahal’s whereabouts remain unknown.

The incident comes only a week after the Maoist chairman, Prachanda, reiterated his party’s commitment to respect human rights, press freedom and join competitive multi-party democracy in a memorandum of understanding signed with the seven-party opposition alliance.

There has been no word from the Maoists as yet regarding the Taplejung incident. nepalnews.com by Nov 30 05

Related news
- Maoists loot transmission equipment from FM station in Kailali