Singh cremated, Janakpur closed

JANAKPUR, Jan 13: The body of journalist Uma Singh, who was murdered by an armed group Sunday evening, was cremated Tuesday afternoon at the Samsan Crematorium at the Gangasagar lake in Janakpur.

• Related story: Janakpur mourns Singh`s murder

Singh´s nephew Avishekh Singh, 18, consigned the body to the flame. Late Singh was a reporter and news presenter with Radio Today, a Janakpur-based FM radio.[break]






With Singh´s death, the only member in her family is her mother, Sushila Devi Sing, 50. Whereabouts of her father Sanjay Singh and elder brother Ranjit Singh, who were allegedly abducted by Maoists on August 31, 2006, is still unknown.



Avishekh, Ranjit´s son, has been studying in India´s Sitamadi in the Bihar state at +2 level.



Markets, educational institutions and transportation, among other businesses in Janakpur remain closed throughout the day since early Tuesday morning to protest the grisly murder.



At a gathering in Janakpur, President of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Dharmendra Jha said new phase of protests will be announced on Wednesday. FNJ has demanded with the government that security be provided to Singh´s family and all journalists across the country, slain Singh be declared martyr and her family be provided compensation, among other things.