A group of masked people has vandalized Birgunj-based Avenues Television's bureau office on May 13. Birgunj lies in Province 2 of Nepal.
According to FF's representative Rajan Singh, the group led by Birgunj Metropolitan City- 13 wardchair Tufan Singh entered the office at 12 noon and damaged office's banners, camera and broke glasses worth approximately two lakhs.
The cadres have stated themselves being affiliated to Samajbadi Party.
Earlier on May 12, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chair Upendra Yadav of the party had furiously left the studio of Avenues TV Kathmandu in between his interview with journalist Sushil Pandey reasoning indecent behavior of the journalist.
Representative Singh further reported that the cadres vandalized television's regional office after video of the interview went viral in social media.
District Police Office is investigating upon the case, reported Singh.
Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the incident as it is a sheer violation of press freedom. The incident has not only obstructed the free access to information but also created fear among working media professionals. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to investigate the issue seriously and bring to book the perpetrators. Also, the media house should be provided with proper compensation.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022