Janadisha daily newspaper, a mouthpiece of the Maoists, failed to hit the news-stands Tuesday after an emergency was declared overnight to curb a six year communist insurgency that has claimed more than 2,200 lives. Fundamental rights were suspended after the declaration of the nation-wide emergency.

The government also declared Maoists as terrorists. An ordinance issued Monday night gave the government sweeping powers of arrest and search; the law gives government powers to suspend of bank accounts of suspected terrorists or organizations.

In a change of strategy, the rebels have for the first time targeted the army in their attacks; police were only targeted previously. Maoists succeeded in capturing some SLRs from the army to increase their firepower.