Kathmandu, November 13:

Former prime minister and leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, today thanked the media, human rights organisations, civil society, business community, OHCHR (United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights), and sugarcane farmers for expressing their concerns for the safe release of his son Arun Chand from Maoist captivity.

“I would like to thank especially the sugarcane farmers for raising voices for my son’s safe release,” Chand said at a press conference held at his residence. He said over 1,300 farmers had signed on a paper demanding Arun’s release. Arun said the Maoists did not have any reason to abduct him as he had visited the factory with a view to operating it and paying back the outstanding sum to the farmers. He said the money the mill owed to the farmers was not a big amount, as it could be paid gradually if the mill could be brought into operation.