Kathmandu, March 19:

The Human Rights Organisation of Nepal (HURON) today condemned the Maoists for their “brutal activities” in different parts of the country of late.

In a press statement, the HURON asked the CPN-Maoist to focus on peaceful measures “rather than leading the country towards anarchy”.

Saying that the kidnapping of Hari Shrestha, the owner of Woodland Hotel in Durbarmarg yesterday, has infringed upon national and international norms of human rights, the HURON condemned the “torture” meted out on Shrestha as against the peace agreements signed with the government.

The Joint Forum for Human Rights also today condemned the Maoists for the abduction of businessmen and other people across the country.

Meanwhile, former finance minister and standing committee member of the CPN-UML, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, today condemned the beating of Hari Shrestha allegedly by a group of Maoists for refusing to give them a hefty amount of donation.

Backing the industrialists’ demand of security, law and order in society, Adhikari said it was inappropriate on the part of the Prime Minister to refuse to meet the businessmen and industrialists, who went today to Baluwatar to lodge complaints over deteriorating law and order.

He demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and that legal action be taken against the guilty for abducting Shrestha and beating him up. “Such acts will not help proceed ahead with the ongoing peace process. I also demand the government to control extortion,” Adhikari said.