Maoists free Dahal, return camera and other equipment of journos

December 3, 2003
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December 03, 2005

KATHMANDU:  Maoist rebels have freed Ram Prasad Dahal, advisor to UNDP-funded Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme, in eastern district of Taplejung Friday after taking him into custody for five days, reports said.

The rebels had taken Dahal into custody from Sikaicha VDC in the district. The rebels have also returned audio-visual equipment they had seized from a group of journalists including Upendra Man Singh, a cameraman with the private sector Kantipur Television, and Sanchit Lamichhane, a reporter with The Boss magazine.

According to reports, Maoists admitted their mistake in the incident and said that the incident had taken place due to `misunderstanding.’

The incident had taken place only a week after the Maoist chairman, Prachanda, reiterated his party’s commitment towards human rights, press freedom and multi-party democracy in the country a memorandum of understanding signed with the seven-party opposition alliance.