Dhangadhi, December 1:

The task force - formed by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Kailali chapter - begun probe into murder of journalist JP Joshi ‘Pandit’ from today. The team held talks with police officials and Attariya-based businessman Lokendra Rawat, one of the suspects in the murder case. Rawat was arrested on Saturday.

The journalists’ probe panel also visited Joshi’s family at Malikatol, Malakheti VDC-3.

However, slain Joshi’s wife and brother weren’t around since they have been allegedly detained by the Maoists for the past four days. The local unit of the FNJ took out a rally here to press for the immediate arrest of the culprits and an adequate compensation for the bereaved. Journalists from the hilly districts of the far-western region attended the demonstration.

A sit-in protest was held for half an hour at the main gate of the Kailali District Administration Office. A memorandum was also submitted to acting Chief District Officer Rajkumar Niraula, who has promised to forward it to the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the strike called by Maoist-affiliated Tharuwan State Committee disrupted normal life for the second day.

Traffic remained off the roads. Educational institutions were also closed.