Nepal police manhandled reporters at https://avenueskhabar.com.np/ (online news portal) Shital Rijal and his cameraperson Suresh Rajak while reporting on September 10 in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.
Talking to Freedom Forum, reporter Rijal said that the incident took place outside a hotel in central Kathmandu where the reporters were trying to cover the updates of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Police persons on duty outside the hotel barred their entry into the hotel and took the reporter under control for 1.5 hours.
"We requested the officers to let us return back without reporting but in vain. Thereafter, cameraperson Rajak started recording video, then the police manhandled us and broke the camera. They did not even state a reason for mistreating us", shared Rijal.
The reporters returned back home after 1.5 hours.
Lately, MCC has been an important issue of public concern in Nepal which has drawn wide attention of the public as well as other concerned sectors. Representatives of the Nepal government is currently having discussion on the possible risks of signing the contract with the MCC representative in the hotel.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is sheer violation of press freedom and citizen's right to information. Obstructing the journalists from doing their job depicts how hostile the environment is for media. FF strongly urges the concerned authority to address the case seriously , ensure free reporting atmosphere for them and provide compensation for their loss.
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