FNJ launches agitation to press for publicising Shah's whereabouts

As the Prime Minister and Maoist chairman Prachanda failed to live up to their commitment of making public the whereabouts of abducted journalist Birendra Shah within Saturday, the Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ) has launched nationwide agitation.

The FNJ has regretted that neither the government nor the Maoists have made public the whereabouts of Shah who was abducted by Maoist leaders from Bara district a month ago.

Last week, both Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda had promised the family of Shah that they will make public his whereabouts within three days.

The FNJ has decided to stage one hour sit-in protest in front of south gate of Singh Durbar on Sunday at 1 pm and also hold rallies in districts across the country.

Meanwhile, one of the accused in Shah's abduction Kundan Faujdar has claimed that he was abducted under 'party instruction.' Talking to a local FM station of Bara, Gadhimai FM, Faujdar – who said he was hiding in India - claimed he had handed over Shah to Lal Bahadur Chaudhary, chief of the now dismantled district people's government, after abduction. "I don't know what they did to him afterwards," he added.

Various field missions including the parliamentary probe panel has accused Bara district Maoist leaders Chaudhary, Faujdar, Hareram Patel and Ram Ikbal Sahani of being involved in Shah's abduction.

Meanwhile, a Birgunj-based daily has reported that Shah could have been killed the very day he was abducted. Prateek daily of Birgunj has reported Chaudhary as having told journalists in unidentified location that Shah has already been killed. The report, however, is yet to be fully confirmed. nepalnews.com sd Nov 04 07