Himalmedia attacked again, dozen injured

Twelve staff of Himalmedia, including CEO Ashutosh Tiwari, Nepali Times editor and publisher Kunda Dixit, were injured in an attack by pro-Maoist workers at the organisation's office in Hatiban at noon on Sunday.
Dambar Krishna Shrestha, a journalist with fortnightly news magazine, Himal Khabarpatrika, shows his injuries he sustained in an attack by Maoist-affiliated workers and the cadres of Young Communist League (YCL) at Himal Media's office in Hattiban, Lalitpur, on Sunday, Dec 21 08. Around 50 persons barged into Himal Media, vadalising the office and attacking staffers including Editor of Nepali Times, Kunda Dixit, CEO Ashutosh Tiwari and Executive Editor Kiran Nepal. nepalnews.com/NPA    
Dambar Krishna Shrestha, a journalist with fortnightly news magazine, Himal...

About 50 attackers, including Maoist members Ramesh Babu Panta and Ramesh KC, were identified. Panta is the leader of the Maoist-affiliated Hotel and Restaurant Labour Union and KC is with the Media and Press Union Lalitpur unit.

They forcibly entered the premises and started beating up staff. They threatened editorial and administrative staff, saying they had written anti-Maoist stories.

The latest issue of Himal Khabarpatrika and Nepali Times have investigative stories about "extremist behaviour of Maoists who are threatening businesses and the media".

Sunday's attack is the latest in a series in the past month during which the Maoists vandalised an office vehicle, set fire to copies of Himalkhabarpatrika and threatened to kill staffers.

Other injured staffers include Finance Manager Bindira Shakya, Himal Khabarpatrika editor Kiran Nepal, Special Correspondent Damber K Shrestha, Administrative Manager Surendra Sharma.

"This is not a labour issue, this is a press freedom issue," said Nepali Times editor Kunda Dixit, "The Maoists want to control the media."