Commuters are facing a tough time reaching their destinations as a very few private and public vehicles were seen plying the streets in defiance of the banda that follows the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist´s nationwide general shutdown a day earlier. [break]
Strikers vandalized a press vehicle belonging Republica /Nagarik dailies in Lahan in the morning. They attacked the Tata Mobile van (Ko 1 Cha 5928) and smashed its window panes at Mirchaiya of the district at around 8 am when the vehicle was headed for Janakpur carrying the newspapers.
The incident site lies just some 100 meters east of the Mirchaiya area police office. The assailants, some seven or eight in number, asked to stop the vehicle and took out all newspapers from inside and attacked it with stones and sticks, the driver Basanta said.
Police inspector Naresh Raj Subedi of the area police office said four persons have been held in connection with the vandalism. After registering a complaint with police, the vehicle has left for Janakpur under police escort at 9:45 am.
The district chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists has condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on press freedom. Sunil Kumar Shah, head of a network of local rights activists´ bodies, termed the incident a deplorable act and has asked the police to take necessary action against those involved in the attack.
Likewise, the district chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries have condemned the attack. Meanwhile, Kishori Yadav, district chairman of MPRF Nepal claimed some youth miscreants launched the attack. "Whether our party workers were involved in the attack or not, we apologize for the mishap," Yadav said.
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