The United States Monday expressed grave concern over the seizure of the radio equipments from the Kantipur FM, a private FM radio station, by state authorities on October 21.

A statement issued by Sean McCormack, Spokesman of the US State Department posted at the US department website said, “The US is deeply disappointed and concerned by the shocking seizure at gunpoint of radio equipment from the Kathmandu office of Kantipur FM Station, an independent FM radio station, by state authorities on October 21.”

A free media is one of the hallmarks of a democratic nation, and the Government of Nepal’s recent call for national elections rings hollow if other democratic institutions are systematically dismantled, the release says.

Reestablishment of a democratic government united against the Maoist insurgency is the best path to restoring peace. The United States calls on the King and the government to move quickly toward restoring multi-party democratic institutions, protecting civil and human rights, and reaching out to the political parties in dialogue, the statement adds.

The government authorities took away key equipment used to uplink the FM’s transmission to Bhedetar station in the eastern region saying it was airing program defying recently promulgated ordinance, which prohibits to air program from different locations at the same time.