Chairperson of https://www.nitinews.com/ (news potal) Shankar Tiwari has been receiving threats of attack for reporting news since August 15. The portal is being operated from federal capital Kathmandu, Bagmati Province.
Talking to Freedom Forum, journalist Tiwari shared that he had published a news critical to a Member of Parliament Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi. Since then, he has been receiving various threatening messages and calls from Shahi and his supporters.
Immediately after publication of news, Shahi's partner Prakash Nayak called on Tiwari's mobile and threatened of kidnapping him whereever he meets Tiwari, if the journalist again writes news quoting him.
Journalist Tiwari continued reporting on parliamentarian Shahi's alleged multiple marriages even after the threatening call. Thereafter, on August 27 parliamentarian Shahi thratened Tiwari through facebook messenger account.
Tiwari has shared the screenshot of messenger chat which reads- Shahi threatening Tiwari of arresting and suing him.
Journalist Tiwari informed FF that he filed a complaint at Metropolitan Police Circle, Teku against Shahi today (August 28).
Freedom Forum condemns the incident. The concerned can approach court if the news has defamed him or Press Council Nepal for any concerns over news. Threatening journalist of attack and court case is an absolute violation of free press. Being a public figure, parliamentarian should be cautious about journalists' rights and press freedom.
For more,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np