Maoists disrupt distribution of two dailies
Kathmandu, July. 25 (PTI): A Maoist-affiliated trade union allegedly continued to create hurdles in the distribution of a leading English daily and its sister publication for the seventh consecutive day today to press for its demand for permanent status for boys distributing the newspapers.
Cycle boys belonging to All Nepal Communication, Press and Publications, a union affiliated to Maoists, landed early today at the offices of Sama Printers' at Bhainsepati and Lalitpur, where the Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post are printed, and allegedly attempted to take control of vehicles loaded with newspapers.
After the vehicles left under police escort, one of the them was stoned and stopped at Nakkhu, according to sources at The Himalayan Times.
Union workers took away copies of the newspapers meant for distribution in Patan area and also snatched the keys of the vehicle, the sources said, adding they threatened the drivers of the distribution vehicles with dire consequences.
However, police remained a silent spectator, they alleged.
The incident happened at a time when Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara is the Minister for Information and Communication. He, however denied that his party has ordered any such action.
The Maoist-affiliated workers' union has been demanding permanent status for the newspaper distribution boys. Earlier last month they also tried to block the distribution of The Kathmandu Post and Nepal Samacharpatra in the same manner.
In a statement, Nepal Press Institute condemned the act, saying "it is an unfortunate incident," and called the concerned parties not to create obstacles in the free flow of information.
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