The cadres snatched around 165 copies of Nagarik and 10 copies of Republica from Shrestha book center and Krishna newspaper stall at around 6 am and burnt the newspapers at the road.[break]
Earlier, a Youth Force cadre who came posing as customer looted newspapers from the stalls and ran away.
The Youth Force action comes at a time when various sections of society have been protesting the assault of Khilanath Dhakal, a correspondent of Nagarik and Republica dailies, by Youth Force chief of Morang Parshuram Basnet.
Earlier the regional chief of Youth Force, Shambhu Bhandari, had warned of taking action against Nagarik and Republica dailies.
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Jhapa chapter has strongly condemned the torching of newspapers copies as an attempt to gag the press.
FNJ Chairman of Jhapa, Ganesh Pokharel said the planned attack on Nagarik and Republica dailies by Youth Force is an attack on the freedom of press. A police investigation into the torching of newspapers is under way.
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