The Maoists mercilessly attacked a photo-journalist, Prabin Maharjan, and harassed several media persons who were covering the Singha Durbar picket on Sunday.[break]
Maharjan, who works for Associated News Agency, was brutally attacked at Maitighar. He received 13 stitches for skull injuries.
Similarly, Shruti Niroula, a reporter for Sagarmatha Radio, was bullied and harassed by the Maoist cadres for an hour. Meanwhile, Rabindra Shrestha, a reporter for Avenues Television, was also attacked. His camera was completely damaged in the incident.
After Maharjan was attacked, photo-journalists entered into the safety of police cordon till later in the evening, before they held a press conference raising voice for security and a senior Maoist leader, approaching them, promised to take the responsibility.
Several journalists complained that Maoists misbehaved with them in areas around Singha Durbar. “They abused and threatened to knock me down,” said Kaushal Adhikari, a photo-journalist.
“I did not dare cross this area. I do not know whether I would have to wait till the evening to go to office,” said Yopesh Pradhan, removing officer sticker off his video camera at 3:30 pm lest the irate agitators take it as an excuse to misbehave. Several of his friends had earlier failed in their attempts to get out of the picket. “Our identity card is now a token to invite an insult,” a reporter chimed in.
´Thrash the journo!´
Maharjan was just about to retreat after an agitator warned him not to take photographs. “All of sudden, they cried, ´thrash the journos´. My head was pounded with sticks and once with an iron rod that I think left the deep cut,” said Maharjan.
“I do not know what would have happened had I not noticed him on time and dragged him out of the crowd,” said Prem KC, a constable who saved Maharjan and also sustained injury to his left hand himself.
The attack on journalist triggered a clash between the cops and agitators. The agitators pelted stones while the police responded by charging batons and firing 50 rounds of tear-gas shells. Six cops, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bhola Rawal, were injured in the clash.
Later, the Maoists created another hullaballo taking control of two officers of National Investigation Department -- Ram Kumar Mahat and Ram Chandra Gharti -- from a nearby building allegedly for spying on them. They also took control of Indra Shrestha, a kitchen help at a nearby restaurant -- allegedly for possessing a chopper.
Min Bajracharya, the president of National Forum of Photo Journalists (NFPJ), said that the attack over journalists was a blatant attempt to demoralise the media by the political force that wants to bring about autocracy.
Maoist leader Janardan Sharma, who was leading the mass at Maitighar, told Republica that the attack took place in his absence while he was attending the party´s meeting.
“We will investigate into the incident and if any Maoist is found guilty we will take action against him,” he added. He insisted that it was most probable that the incident could have been perpetrated by the vigilantes. He, however, ruled out any link between Chairman Dahal´s statement and the attack on journalists.
Home Ministry denounces the capture of NID officials
The Home Ministry on Sunday denounced the Maoists for holding captive two NID officials at Maitighar. “It was natural for the government officials to work on their assignments at a public place,” the statement issued by the ministry said.
The ministry also said that the Maoists themselves had provoked and compelled the police to take action. The NID officials were later rescued by officials of the Nepal Police and National Human Right Commission.
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