Officials vandalize NSC office

KATHMANDU, July 9: Demanding that the Eastern Regional Stadium be built in Dharan, a group led by two officials of the National Sports Council (NSC) on Friday vandalized the office of NSC member-secretary Hari Babu Chaudhary.



A group of 20-25 players led by NSC Vice-president Pitambar Timilsina and Member Kishor Rai vandalized Chaudhary´s office. [break]



The situation turned tense after Timilsina and Rai pressed Chaudhary to take the decision regarding the construction of stadium in Dharan immediately. A photocopy machine, a fax machine, two cupboards, a table set and mirror were damaged in the incident.



Hanumandhoka Police Range arrested Timilsina and Rai from NSC premises on the charge of vandalism. They were released later in the evening following an understanding between the two parties, the police said.



Vice-president Timilsina said Chaudhary should apologize for asking the police to arrest them. “Punish me if I am guilty and fire me from the vice president´s post,” he challenged. “How can the member-secretary run NSC after such an incident?” Timilsina questioned.



He also accused Chaudhary of provoking them. He said they had visited Chaudhary not only to talk about regional stadium but regarding other issues, including the freezed budget and unwillingness of the member secretary to make transparent the transactions of the President´s Cup.







He also claimed that the budget of four million rupees approved by the government is on the verge of being freezed as NSC has not made any plans to utilize them.



However, Chaudhary claimed that the NSC vice president and member vandalized his office to discourage him.



“If they were dissatisfied with me, they should have raised the issue in board meeting. But they had ulterior motives as they came in a group of 20 and vandalized the office. They had thrown a chair in an attempt to kill me but I was able to dodge them” Chaudhary said.



This is the second time that NSC has been vandalized in a month.



There is a long-standing dispute on whether the eastern regional stadium should be built in Dharan or Itahari. A study committee was formed last year under the coordination of Gorakh Bahadur Singh, joint secretary at Ministry for Youth and Sports, after the council of ministers failed to decide on the issue.



However, the report submitted by Singh, who retired four months ago does not say where the stadium should be built.



The ministry later had given NSC the responsibility to choose a site for the construction of the stadium.



Meanwhile, NSC Employee Association issuing a press release has condemned the vandalism of the NSC office. The association has demanded action against the offenders.

Related story

NSC to organize national tournament from Nov 1