Woman minister slaps official over car

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A Nepalese federal minister faced charges for allegedly slapping a senior official several times for sending an old car to pick her up from airport.

The incident occurred in the Himalayan state's southern Parsa district, where Minister of State for Agriculture Karima Begum had gone on a trip. The minister admitted slapping the district chief administrator, Durga Prasad Bhandari, five times, accusing him of ignoring her telephone calls and not sending a new car for her visit, the Press Trust of India reported.

"Yes, I slapped the chief district administrator as he ignored my telephone calls and failed to provide a luxury vehicle for my tour," Karima Begum told reporters, PTI said.

Later she told PTI: "When I asked him about the vehicle he argued with me. I slapped him five times in order to make him aware of his duties. How can officials insult ministers?"

The BBC said the minister struck Bhandari and struck him again when he protested, breaking his glasses.

Bhandari was quoted as saying the slaps came while he stood in line to receive the minister.

"I could not even get a word out," he told a local newspaper.

He also was quoted as saying a newer and bigger car was not immediately available to pick up the minister.

The BBC said the Nepalese Home Ministry, which received a protest note from Bhandari, apologized.

Local government offices and government banks remained closed in protest.

Nepalnews.com reported police Wednesday filed a case of public offense against Karima Begum.