Nepal scribes protest Sah's murder Maoists

Kathmandu, Nov 6 (UNI) Journalists are staging demonstrations throughout Nepal today protesting the murder of Indian journalist Birendra Kumar Sah in Bara district by Maoists following his abduction on October 4.

Demanding strong action against the assailants, Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) chanted slogans against the Maoists and asked them to publicly apologise for the murder.

The agitating mediapersons obstructed the East-West highway at different stretches including Siraha, Saptari, Sarlahi and Rautahat districts, demanding the end of murder, violence, threat and intimidation of journalists by the Maoists.

Dubbing Sah's murder ''as a heinous crime against humanity'', the FNJ appealed to the government to confer state honour to the slain journalist and adequate compensation to his family.

''The Maoist leadership should publicly express commitment that they would never murder a journalist again and seek public apology for the crime,'' Kantipur quoted FNJ vice president Shiv Gaunle as saying.

Expressing sadness over Sah's murder all FM radio stations played melancholic music for one minute today.

Various national and international media organisations have condemned Maoist action.

The Maoists had yesterday admitted that their cadres were responsible for Sah's murder and expressed commitment to give possible support to the state to initiate legal action against the assailants.

UNI