Freedom Forum is concerned over an incident where News 24 journalists were manhandled by security officials while covering a story about the difficulties faced by "mobile tea entrepreneurs" for selling tea at bus park, Kathmandu . The incident occurred late in the evening on Thursday, February 21. Kathmandu lies on Province 3 of Nepal.
Journalists Saligram Pudasaini and Anil Dhungel reached the place to cover the story after they received a complaint about the mistreatment of police officials towards tea vendors in the area. After they had captured the footage of security personal misbehave to the vendors, journalist were inquired about their motives by the police and later threatened for covering the news. They were even manhandled by Police Assistant Sub Inspector Thulakancha Gurung, Police-constable Purna Chaudhari, and Policeman Min Khadka. The security officials tried snatching their camera despite showing them their identity card.
Security officials later claimed mobile tea entrepreneurs pose threat to the security hence they aim to discourage such business. Upon the complaints received about police forces mistreatment towards tea entrepreneurs, News24 journalists visited the site to incorporate police version.
According to journalists, ''Police Assistant Sub Inspector Thulakancha Gurung from bus park police station misbehaved mobile tea entrepreneurs in front of us. While capturing same live visuals, we were misbehaved by police forces''
Freedom Forum condemns the incident and urges security forces to be serious to respect journalists' right to reporting. It is the right of the journalist and free press to write about such issues and security officials should respect such rights. FF urges the concerned authority to respect press freedom and not trouble journalist while reporting.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030, 4102022