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Printing sector faces a double whammy

ITAHARI, JAN 06 -
Printing sector in the eastern Tarai districts is increasingly getting insecure, as the underground groups in the region have been threatening the print operators forcing them to publish their pamphlets and other publicity materials.

They have complained that the armed outfits issue death threats if they refuse to print their materials. Worse, the police operation to clamp down activities of the underground groups has put the print professionals into further trouble.

Security agencies are treating the print operators as the enemy of the state for publishing materials for the underground groups, said Suman Dhungel, who owns a press at Itahari of Sunsari.   

“It’s a double whammy for the print operators,” he said. “If we refuse to print their materials, the underground groups threaten us with death, and when we comply with their diktat, the police come to arrest us.”    

Sunsari police arrested two print operators—Kedar Dahal and Hari Acharya—last week in connection with the recent spate of bombings in Itahari wherein at least six civilians were injured. Dahal and Acharya were arrested on charge of assisting the criminal outfits by publishing their pamphlets.  

“The state should ensure our security first, or else there is no point arresting us for publishing materials for the underground groups,” said Raju Nepal of Printers’ Association, Sunsari.

There are more than 70 printing presses in the district and over 24 newspapers and magazines are published here. Most of these presses are troubled by the armed groups that often leave their pamphlets at the scene of bomb explosions to own up responsibility. In the recent times, security personnel have been tracking down the press houses that print pamphlets for the groups and initiating action against the proprietors.   

“We urge the state and the security agencies to understand our situation,” said Saligram Pandey.

Deputy Inspector General of Eastern Regional Police Office, Surendra Bahadur Shah, said publishing any materials for the organisation deemed as criminal group by the state was against the law.

“If these groups are forcing the press operators to print their materials then the police should be informed. We will provide them necessary security and arrest the criminals.” 

Press operators, meanwhile, have demanded the government provide at least two police personnel at their workplace for security.

“It’s not our interest to print pamphlets for underground groups, we don’t receive money. But when they force us, we are helpless,” said Krishna Thapa, a press operator.

Posted on: 2012-01-07 09:33

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