Chairman of Nepal's ruling Maoist party Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda received an unexpected festive gift on Friday - a slap in the face by a commoner. Utpal Parashar reports.
Chairman of Nepal's ruling Maoist party Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda received an unexpected festive gift on Friday - a slap in the face by a commoner.
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The 58-year-old former prime minister was targeted in public glare during his party's tea reception to exchange Diwali, Chhath, Eid and Nepal Sambat New Year greetings.
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The attacker identified as Pawan Kunwar, a 25-year-old resident of Baglung district, slapped Prachanda after shaking hands with him and other Maoist leaders at the reception held in Kathmandu.
Eye witnesses said Prachanda's spectacles fell to the ground and there was confusion at the venue for close to 10 minutes after the incident.
The youth was who was apprehended and beaten up by Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) cadres was handed over to security personnel.
Prachanda's party has dubbed the incident as "pre-meditated" while the home ministry has formed a three-member panel to probe it.
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
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