Released.
A visibly shaken shivani and reporter J. Pandey . I guess they shoul be thankful that they are alive. Well, what else can say.
Released from Maoist captivity, a popular model is still terrified (Nepalnews special)
Shivani Singh Tharu, a popular model and TV presenter?who was kept into captivity for over a week by the Maoist rebels in the far-western Nepal along with her colleague-- said she is still terrified and is worried about her safety.
J. Pandey (left) with Shivani after their release. Photo courtesy : Kantipur Daily
Talking to Nepalnews over phone from her home town, Nepalgunj, in mid-western region, Monday afternoon, Tharu narrated the ordeal of her abduction and said she would not return to the capital, Kathmandu, until she is assured of her security.
According to Shivani, she and her colleague, Nepalgunj-based reporter of the Kantipur daily, J Pandey, had left for the far western region of Nepal early this month as per of her research in the conflict-hit areas. They also intended to produce a programme on Nepali folklores.
?The Maoists abducted us on December 17 from Binayak in Achham district and held us hostage at two different places for eight days,? she said. ?They released us only on Friday.?
A well-known model, Shivani presents a popular programme, ?Mero Geet Mero Sandesh,? over the state-owned Nepal Television. She has reported from a number of Nepali cities and town and even abroad.
According to Pandey, local rebel cadres first asked them to stay at Binayak saying that they will allow them to film only after getting ?clearance? from their commanders. They later took them to Bhatakatima, a remote area, in the district.
Achham district. File Photo : pddp.org.np
?It was only there that we realized we were under the Maoist custody. The Maoist cadres started to threaten us with our life,? he said. The rebels locked them up in separate rooms and also abused them, according to Pandey.
Shivani said the rebels alleged her of being a government spy and holding a rank of officer with the National Investigation Department (NID). ?I repeatedly refuted the allegation but they forced me to sign on an affidavit saying that I was a spy and that I would resign from my post upon returning to Kathmandu,? she said.
Pandey said the rebels accused him of being an of the government spy and asked him not to defend her.
? I am feeling very insecure to return to Kathmandu. I would like the government, especially the NID to clarify that I am not their employee. Only then I can go back to Kathmandu and join my job,? Shivani told us. ?Whenever I see a stranger here in Nepalgunj, I feel as if I am seeing a Maoist,? she added.
Kantipur daily on Monday quoted chief of the NID, Deviram Sharma, as saying that it was none of the newspaper?s business to ask if Shivani worked with his department. ?If Shivani is facing any difficulty, her family or the Maoists should ask with us,? he added.
Shivani Singh Tharu. File Photo : Cybernepal.com.np
Pandey said they were freed as part of their own efforts and reports that some rights activists had brokered their release were not true.
Daughter of a former minister, Shivani ? who comes from the ethnic Tharu community?has a huge following of her own across the country and abroad. Pandey is also a well-known reporter and writes regularly on different aspects of the conflict, especially in the mid-western region.
Journalists and freelance reporters have faced threats from both the government and Maoist rebels in the past in the line of their duty. The rebels killed Dekendra Thapa, a reporter with the state-owned Radio Nepal, in the mid-western district of Dailekh in August this year and have threatened over a dozen reporters to quit their work stations for allegedly writing against their activities. nepalenews.com Prakash Dhakal Dec 27 04
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