Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has denounced the vandalism at the office of Dhangadhi-based Sudoor Sandesh daily by cadres of theUnified CPN (Maoist) on Monday in reaction to a news story published in the paper.

Issuing a press statement Tuesday, FNJ said around dozen Maoist cadres led by Tika Ram Sapkota assaulted the daily's computer operator Prayag Joshi yesterday evening and smashed the furniture.

Terming action as an attack on press freedom, the federation said that such actions were most regrettable from a party's responsible members. FNJ also condemned the act and requested the concerned authority to initiate legal action against the culprits.

The federation also urged UCPN (M) to take action against Sapkota, who is an in-charge of Kailali-15. "FNJ urges the Maoist party to instruct all of its cadres not to repeat acts that are against press freedom and freedom of expression."

It also asked the government to arrest Sapkota and his team involved in vandalism, and compensate the daily for the loss. nepalnews.com