PM directs Home Minister to find out Anandi Devi's whereabouts

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has instructed Home Minister Krishna Situala to mobilise the police force to find out the whereabouts of Anandi Devi Singh, the chairperson of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), who was "forcefully taken away" from her residence in Jadibuti, Bhaktapur, allegedly by industry minister Shayam Sundar Gupta a week ago.

The PM gave the order to the Home Minister who was present during the PM's meeting with NSP-A vice chairman Khusi Lal Mandal in Baluwatar.

Earlier today, a group of NSP-A cadres led by Mandal had staged demonstration in front of the PM's residence demanding that the government start search for their missing chairperson.

During the course of the meeting, PM Koirala called up minister Gupta to come to him and clarify on the kidnapping charge, but the latter insisted that he was not able to come to Baluwatar, Mandal informed reporters.

Immediately after the PM's order, police officials moved into action, carrying out search for the NSP-A chief in some places, but they had not got any lead about her status till evening. Mandal faction's claim is that minister Gupta had kidnapped her on May 5th and is believed to have kept her somewhere in Kathmandu. Minister Gupta on the other hand has said she is currently in Patna, India, for medical treatment.

81-year-old Anandi Devi, the widow of NSP founder president Gajendra Narayan Singh, has been a victim of a vicious feud between the rival factions of the party ever since she was nominated as the figurehead president of the party. She is not active in politics. nepalnews.com mk May 10 08

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