Hardline Maoists torch five towers of telecom company in Nepal

Cadres of a hardline Maoist group in Nepal on Saturday set on fire five towers of a private telecommunication company across the country.

As some leaflets, published by the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-Maoist, were recovered from some sites, police suspected that the party made the multiple attacks on the telecom company.

According to the Nepal Police Headquarters, the towers in Shivasatakshi of Jhapa, Kubhinde Daha of Salyan, Laxmipur of Dang, Ashrang of Gorkha and Yangsila of Morang districts were set on fire by the Maoist cadres.

Equipment worth thousands of rupees were destroyed in the arson attacks, police said. The Ncell has recently come under attack from various corners for refusing to pay the capital gains tax it owed to the government when TeliaSonera sold Ncell for Rs 143 billion equivalent to 1.40 billion US Dollar to Axiata Group. An investigation has been launched into the incident.