Stones hurled at minister's car

Himalayan News Service

POKHARA: Finance minister Surendra Pandey could not attend a scheduled function after activists of the UCPN-Maoist showed him black flags and hurled stones on his vehicle here today.

Pandey had reached Chipledhunga to launch the publication of Golden News Daily to be published from today.

Due to the protest of some 200 activists of UCPN-Maoist, Pandey had to return to Kathmandu without attending the programme.

Windscreen of a police vehicle escorting the minister’s vehicle was damaged in the Maoist attack. The minister’s vehicle also bore some damage.

The Maoists have been demanding civilian supremacy and are boycotting functions that feature the ministers.

Recently communication minister Shankar Pokharel was shown black flags in Pokhara.

Meanwhile, Kaski Chief District Officer Subas Chaudhary confirmed that the Maoists had shown black flags to Pandey and hurled stones on his vehicle.