Itahari, March 3:

Maniraj Bhattarai, the editor of Dharan Saptahik, a weekly published from Dharan of Sunsari district, was attacked by two youths yesterday. The unidentified youths, who came asking for the editor at the Chhata Chowk-based office of the weekly, attacked him with a sword. Bhattarai sustained injuries in the hands.

Bhattarai is undergoing treatment at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS). Issuing a press statement, Sunsari chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalist condemned the attack and demanded that a probe committee be formed to bring the culprits to book. “We have taken the attack very seriously and the culprits would face stern action once they are arrested,” said Sunsari police chief Rajendraman Shrestha.