Nepal police arrested Executive editor Anish Tamang and director general Durga Lal Tamang at https://www.ujyaalonetwork.com/ (an online news portal) on April 25 from Kathmandu. Police also picketed the Kathmandu based office of the media and seized camera and mobile of the editor Bibek Lopchan while he was working on his desk.
As per the information received, they were arrested for publishing news on their portal critical to Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on April 15. Following the news publication, Press Council Nepal had asked for clarification over the contents within 24 hours on which the media house had furnished clarification and apologized for news publication.
Few days later, police arrested the journalists under 'Electronic Transaction Act and Crime against State' charge.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is gross violation of press freedom. Police intimidation on the media house and its journalists is against the notion of free press and journalists' rights.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np