Energy minister latest terror victim

Published on 3:48:00 AM //

BABURAM KHAREL

In yet another incident of terror in the Capital, newly appointed Minister for Energy of the CPN-UML Gokarna Bista was attacked by unidentified assailants at Samakhushi Town Planning area on Monday evening. He sustained injuries on his head and in the right hand.

Bista was attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants from the rear who were armed with a khukuri at about 8:45 pm as he came out of his Samakhushi-based residence following an unknown call.

According to Bista's wife, the attackers aimed the khukuri at Bista's head but it primarily descended on his hand when he tried to ward off the blow. Eyewitnesses said the attackers fled the scene and that their faces were not discernable as the attack took place during a power outage. Bista sustained wounds on his head and arms in the attack

A police team that arrived at the scene 10 minutes after the incident took Bista to the Sorhakhutte-based Manmohan Memorial Hospital. Doctors attending to him said that he is in stable condition. The attack on the energy minister -- just a day after a businessman was gunned down in the Capital -- indicates the worsening security situation in the country.

Chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range Pushkar Karki said a massive manhunt has been launched to nab the attackers. Police rounded up 30 suspects and seized a motorcycle till the time of the Post going to the press.

Police suspect that the attack on Bista was perpetrated by 'anti-government forces'. As the news about the incident got around, Cabinet ministers, including Defence Minister Bishnu Poudel, former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey, UML leaders and cadres thronged the hospital to take stock of Bista's health condition. Meanwhile, as the security situation of the Capital goes from bad to worse the Cabinet remains without a Home Minister, thanks to the continued wrangling among the political parties over the Home portfolio.
(source: eKantipur.com)