Reporter at Galaxy 4K television Ghanashyam Poudel and cameraperson Rukmangat Bhattarai were manhandled while reporting in Arghakhanchi on May 28. Arghakhanchi lies in Lumbini Province of Nepal.
Reporter Poudel shared with Freedom Forum that he and his cameraperson went to a local community school to report on school management committee formation.
"I went to report there on the basis of information provided by the parents about poor management and education quality in the school. I also asked the school management how they form school management committee without informing the local representatives and parents", said reporter Poudel.
"Thereafter, a teacher and a parent manhandled us and threw our boom. Cameraperson Bhattarai has received minor injury on neck and lens of the camera is also damaged in the incident", added Poudel.
Freedom Forum is concerned over the incident. The reporter has right to report the issues of public concern. Intimidating a journalist and obstructing reporting is violation of press freedom and right to information. Hence, FF urges the school authority to respect journalist's right to free reporting.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np