New Delhi: Strongly condemning bomb attacks on an Indian subsidiary cosmetic company in Nepal, India today (Aug 28, 2004) held Maoist organisations "directly responsible" for this reprehensible act and renewed its support to Kathmandu in "firmly dealing" with those behind terror attacks.

"The Government of India calls for an end to the targeting of business enterprises and strongly urges that business ventures be allowed to operate freely, without fear of violence in the interest of the Nepalese people," External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in a statement in New Delhi.

He said India strongly condemns the bomb attacks this morning at the Hetauda factory of Nepal Lever Ltd, a leading Indian joint-venture industrial unit in Nepal and held Maoist organisations directly responsible for this reprehensible act.

"The Indian Government will as always continue its support to the Nepalese Government and the friendly people of that country in dealing firmly with those responsible for terrorist activities."

The spokesman said targeting of a prestigious export-oriented industrial unit to intimidate other similar industries in this key revenue-earning sector of the Nepalese economy to pursue political objectives was "pointless".

He said such acts cannot but harm the Nepalese economy and cause hardship to the people of Nepal, whose interests those responsible for the attack, claim to serve.

"Government of India is requesting His Majesty's Government of Nepal to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice," he said.