Sitaula assures to find Shah's whereabouts; does not confirm reports of his killing

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula has expressed assurances that the government will redouble its efforts to find the whereabouts of abducted journalist Birendra Shah.

Speaking at the parliament, Sunday, Sitaula said that the whole of the police organisation has been mobilised to locate the whereabouts of Shah who was abducted by local Maoist cadres a month ago in Bara district.

He, however, said he could not confirm some reports, which have suggested that Shah has already been killed. "Some people have made remarks from India (that he has been killed) the police will also take those remarks into consideration," he said.

Sitaula made the remark after journalists protested against the government's negligence in the issue and even demanded his resignation after police tried to disrupt peaceful sit-in by the journalists in front of Singh Durbar on Sunday.

Meanwhile, reports coming from Birgunj say that those said to be involved in Shah's abduction have admitted of killing him. The local Maoist leader Lal Bahadur Chaudhary is reported to have told some Birgunj-based journalists that Shah had been killed the same day he was abducted (October 5). He claimed Shah was buried alive in Ratanpuri jungle in Bara. nepalnews.com sd Nov 04 07

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