KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 6
Nepali Congress Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav was attacked with khukuri on the back of his head today just a few minutes after he left a press meeting held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.
Yadav was attacked by a man named Shyam Sapkota, 47, who apparently was one of the listeners at the press meet held at Reporter's Club. He was sitting in the front row during the press meet.He was wearing a black national cap on his head and he was holding a black bag carefully on his lap.
An eyewitness said Yadav was attacked from behind as he was walking out of the club. Soon, well-wishers and aides rescued Yadav whose torso was tainted with gushing blood. Yadav was rushed to National Trauma Centre. He is out of danger, according to police.
Police said the attacker, a permanent resident of Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot, identified himself as a pro-monarchy activist. After attacking him, Sapkota shouted slogans asking to scrap the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a compact between the American aid agency and the Nepal government.
Nepali Congress was among the leading parties that had stressed the need to ratify the MCC through the Parliament.
Sapkota also shouted slogans demanding restoration of monarchy as police struggled to put him inside the police van.
Following the incident, the NC issued a statement, vehemently condemning the attack on Yadav.
Secretary of the party office Krishna Prasad Paudel stressed the importance of upholding democratic values, protecting individual freedom of expression and fostering a climate of tolerance. The statement also wished speedy recovery for Yadav.
NC chair Sher Bahadur Deuba went to the hospital to inquire about Yadav's health.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 07, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.