Journalists duo Binod Babu Rijal and Arjun Adhikari were briefly detained for defying lockdown in Chitwan on April 27. Chitwan lies in Bagmati Province of Nepal.
Representative Ram Mani Dahal said, "The journalists were taken under control at 10 am while they were on field reporting. Even after revealing their identity as journalists, police misbehaved with those and seized their mobile phones and motorbike."
Journalists duo were kept in quarantine after taking under control for an hour, informed representative Dahal.
Journalist Rijal is an editor to Chitwan based Kayakairan daily and Adhikari is a reporter to Radio Triveni.
Freedom Forum condemns the action of police as it is gross violation of press freedom. At a time when whole world is in lockdown to contain COVID-19 pandemic, journalists are obliged to report and make citizens informed on current affairs. Hence, FF appeals the concerned authority to respect journalists' right to press freedom and ensure free reporting atmosphere for working journalists.
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Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np