Organizing a joint press conference, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) have strongly condemned the attack on Shrestha, who is also the first vice-president of HAN and president of tourism and aviation committee of FNCCI. [break]
The attack is unfortunate for the business community in the country. "We have been deeply disturbed by the attack," states a statement issued by FNCCI and HAN. "This incident has exposed the grave situation that the country is going through at the moment."
According to the release, a group of people with masks on their faces -- who had come by motorbike -- had attacked Shrestha while he was passing through Ekantakuna, Lalitpur in his car. "However, there is no serious injury in Shrestha´s body but the car has been damaged by the attack."
"We suspect that workers associated with UCPN (Maoist) were involved in the attack as they have been attacking officials of the hotel management for the last couple of months," reads the release. "The Hotel, Casino and Restaurant Workers´ Union at the hotel has been demanding reinstatement of three workers who were suspended about a month and a half ago."
However, the workers associated with the UCPN (Maoist) have refuted the charge. "We are not involved in the attack. The management has made one-sided allegation," Rameshwar Adhikari, a worker close to the UCPN (Maoist), said.
Meanwhile, the police official said that an investigation is under way to identify the culprits involved in the attack. "So far, we haven´t been able to identify the people involved in the attack," Rajendra Man Shrestha, chief at Metropolitan Police Range Office Lilitpur, told Republica.
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