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PADT officials can be behind it

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By No Author
KATHMANDU, Aug 9: I reached the PADT premises at around 1 pm for a follow-up on my story titled "Pashupati shutters rented for peanuts" published in Nagarik daily on Sunday. There was a program at PADT premises from 3 pm and I was attending it when a local acquaintance called me up.



He took me to a meeting room nearby and introduced me to a shutter tenant Ganga Ram Sahukhala. He vented ire at my report and claimed that PADT paid minimal compensation while he was displaced, did not provide facilities as per the agreement and refused to accept the outstanding rent. [break]



Suddenly a group of around 10 to 12 locals entered the room and tried to misbehave with me. A local, Shyam Krishna Sangat, an old acquaintance of me, tried to protect me. They encircled me and asked me to name the PADT employee I had quoted in my story and told me that I would not be allowed to leave the premises until I divulged the source.



They used profanities all this time. I asked them to send a letter to the editor refuting the news but they were adamant. They threatened me when I said that I cannot reveal the source.



I phoned my editor at the office after they didn´t allow me to leave for a long time. He asked me not to worry and assured that nothing will happen. PADT staffers came outside and became meek spectators of my fate. PADT Member Secretary Sushi Nahata and many staffers were there but they didn´t speak anything.



Inspector at the Metropolitan Police Sector, Gaushala, Santosh Rathod reached there at around 4:45 in a police van. The locals were not allowing me to leave but I sat on the police van on inspector Rathod´s call. I reached the police office at Gaushala in the van.



The police called PADT Member Secretary Nahata and I reached my office at around 6 after discussions for a while. I had also reported about illegal sand mining at Pashupati and other irregularities there in the past as well and a few PADT employees were angry with me. I believe they had called the locals at the PADT premises.



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