Kathmandu, October 30:

Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) today announced of launching a nation-wide protest programme against the Maoists for sheltering abductors and not disclosing information on abduction of journalist Birendra Shah.

“We will announce our protest programmes in a day or two. We have again been forced to take to the street to protect lives of journalists,” FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri, said while addressing a protest programme at Maitighar.

He also said that the journalists would be united to fight for their safety and security. “It is not the question of investigation - everything is clear. Now, time has come for us to call all our chapters in all districts to stage protest against the Maoists,” he said.

He also demanded that the National Human Rights Commission seek clarification from the Maoists.

Chairman of Press Chutari, Balkrishna Chapagain said that the reaction by the Maoists over the incident of Shah’s abduction has proved that the they have lost their ideological ground.

He urged the party leadership to take responsibility for the abduction.

Taranath Dahal, former chairman of FNJ, said that the Maoists are continuing its old policy of controlling the press by physically assaulting journalists.

Earlier, a protest rally, participated in by hundreds of journalists, was taken out from New Baneshwor and converted into a corner meet at Maitighar.