NEPAL: Home minister, security chiefs inspect mosques, media offices

Mobs protesting killing of Nepalese hostages in Iraq vandalized two media offices yesterday; government officials assess damage

Nepal News
Thursday, September 2, 2004

Home minister Purna Bahadur Khadka and the heads of security agencies Thursday inspected the mosques and two media offices vandalized by unruly mobs protesting the killing of 12 innocent Nepalis by Iraqi terrorists.

The home minister and the security bosses, including the army chief, visited two mosques located at Ghantaghar and took account of the damages. Violent protesters had tried to bring down the adjoining Jame Masjid and the Takia Masjid in which they partially succeeded. Minister Khadka condemned the act of vandalism and assured the mosques officials of required security.

Likewise, the minister and his team inspected the office of Kantipur Network located at Tinkune.

Talking to Kantipur journalists, Khadka said ‘some elements’ took advantage of the sentiment sweeping across the nation after the killing of innocent Nepalis in Iraq. "The government will form an inquiry commission over the vandalism in media offices and other public and private properties," he said.

Kantipur Network, the biggest media house in Nepal that runs several publications, a TV channel and a F.M station, has said the government’s security agencies did not respond to its calls for support when the unruly mob went on rampage. Kantipur has claimed that property worth Rs.35 million has been destroyed.

The minister and the security heads also inspected the devastated offices of Channel Nepal and Spacetime Publication, twin ventures of Spacetime Network. Channel Nepal had to suspend its broadcasting for hours while Spacetime Dainik could not come  out today due to yesterday’s destruction by vandals.

Date Posted: 9/2/2004