Surya Nepal officials abducted by suspected Maoists

February 4, 2006
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Suspected Maoists have abducted three senior officials of the Surya Nepal (P) Ltd.—a leading Nepal-India joint venture—from southern district of Bara on Friday.

According to reports, chief of the manufacturing division of the Surya Nepal, Prabhaker Bikram Shah and managers Damber Mani Limbu and Sarbajit Rana were forcibly taken away by a group of armed personnel at around 6:45 p. m. from Chhata Pipara of Bara district Friday evening.

The abductors also set fire on the vehicle Surya Nepal officials were traveling in, according to reports. They were on their way to Birgunj from Simara of Bara district where the company’s production plant is located.

Surya Nepal officials in Kathmandu could not be reached for comments.

Formerly known as Surya Tobacco Company (P) Ltd., Surya Nepal is the largest private sector company in the country. Its promoters include ITC of India and Soaltee Group of Nepal.

With an annual turn over of around Rs three billion, Surya Nepal captures over 60 percent of the Nepali cigarette market. The company is the single largest contributor to the Nepali exchequer, accounting for nearly 4% of the country’s revenue, according to the official website of the Company.

The Maoist rebels had recently abducted a group of contractors working with the Company but freed them later. They had also targeted the company’s production plant in the past.

There has been no word from the rebels as yet regarding the abduction.