Himalayan News Service

Dang, April 24:

Journalists in Dang today boycotted a programme where Minister for Home and Information and Communication Kamal Thapa had been invited as the chief guest. The journalists showed black flag to the minister who had arrived here to inaugurate the 12th meeting of the Dang DDC council. The police used force against the protesting journalists. Sub-inspector Damodar Khanal even torn the black bands tied on arms by journalists Sudarshan Rijal and Sagar Pandit.

Meanwhile, political parties held a protest meet after minister Thapa entered the DDC premises. Basudev Jungli of NC, Hasta Bahadur KC of UML and Kashinath Pokharel of Jana Morcha Nepal flayed the police action against the journalists. They said the time of defeat of the pro-regressive forces was near as the agitation had reached the peak. The participants at the meet shouted slogans against monarchy when the police started intervening and assaulting them. A joint meeting of three political parties; NC, UML and Jana Morcha; denounced the police action against the scribes who were protesting peacefully.