Kathmandu, Oct. 2 (PTI): Nepal's largest newspaper office was attacked by Maoist supporters who destroyed properties and disrupted the publication of two leading dailies here.
A trade union affiliated to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) disrupted the printing of two leading dailies, English edition of The Kathmandu Post and Nepali-language newspaper Kantipur and vandalised the media house located at Tinkune on the outskirt of the capital.
The Maoists also manhandled Managing Director, Kailash Sirohiya.
"A group of Maoists led by Surya Tajpuriya, chairman of Maoist-affiliated 'All Nepal Communications, Printing and Publication Union' vandalised my car and also tried to beat me , but the timely intervention of the police prevented any unpleasant incident," Sirohiya told PTI.
The Maoist workers locked up all the gates of Kantipur Publications' printing and editorial units, and burnt tyres in an attempt to set the office on fire, he said.
The former rebels also burnt vehicles belonging to journalists and caused major damage to the printing unit, he said, adding it will take few days to repair the damages caused to the machinery.
Three people involved in the attack were detained from the publications premises.
The Union had been protesting, demanding their members be given permanent jobs at the publications, better positions and pay-rise.
The union workers turned down offers made by the management for talks, the managing director said.
Major political parties of Nepal including the largest Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have condemned the attack on the media house.
Editors Alliance of Nepal and the Federation of Nepalese Journalists have also flayed the "assault on press freedom".
