At a time when Nepal is luring the foreign investment in several sectors­­, a group of trade union workers affiliated to CPN-Maoist attacked NCELL's head office in New Baneshwor damaging the windows of the main building.

Condemning the attack on telecom service provider Ncell’s head office at New Baneshwor, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said that an attack on any company or individual is not tolerable. “We strongly condemn the attack on a multinational company like Ncell,” it said, adding that the trend of attacking a company due to disputes in another firm is also condemnable.

A group of 35-40 people close to the CPN-Maoist attacked Ncell’s head office at New Baneshwor this afternoon. A series of such physical attacks have saddened the private sector and discouraged them due to the deteriorating security situation in the country, it added. “It will send a negative message to the international community.”

“However, the trade unions affiliated to various political parties have been indulging in such criminal activities and the political parties are encouraging them,” the umbrella organisation of the private sector said, adding that the political parties should be responsible and not encourage impunity and help establish law and order in the country.

“Otherwise, the country that is working hard to attract investment will witness capital and human resources flight,” it added.

FNCCI has also asked the government to book the culprits immediately.  A group of unidentified persons this afternoon vandalised the Ncell head office Krishna Towers, damaging property and inflicting minor injuries on three staff.  “The incident today has shocked the company,” said corporate communication director at Ncell Sanju Koirala. “The attack at our head office when there were numerous customers is a gross inhumane act,” she said, adding that the company strongly condemns such shameful incidents.

“The incident has raised a serious question about the law and order situation in the country and the company urges the state to take the situation seriously and punish the culprits as per the law,” she added.

Some of the people, referring themselves as former staff of Nepal Satellite Company, have been staging protests at Ncell in the past, demanding its management to reinstate them. “But Ncell is a totally different business entity,” Koirala added.