Photo: Journalist Dewan receiving treatment/ Source: Dewan's Facebook page
News coordinator at www.ourbiratnagar.net Prem Dewan was attacked while reporting in Biratnagar on December 7. Biratnagar lies in Koshi Province of Nepal.
Freedom Forum talked to Dewan about the incident. He shared that he was called by one of the protestors to report on their ongoing protest in Biratnagar Municipality. Locals and the fire victims were protesting in the municipality premise against lax arrangement of municipality in controlling fire outbreak.
However, as journalist Dewan reached the site, protestors themselved attacked him. Dewan received minor injuries in his left hand.
Dewan informed FF that he registered a First Information Report at the District Police Office, Morang on December 8 against the attackers Ramesh Ray and Abhimanyu Yadav. Following the report, police arrested Ramesh Ray on December 8.
Freedom Forum condemns the attack upon a journalist. The incident depicts serious insult of a journalist and a gross violation of his right to free reporting. While journalists covering protests are often targeted, such incidents instill further fear on them. Hence, FF urges the concerned to respect journalists right to free reporting and press freedom. The security authority is also urged to ensure safety of journalists.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomdorum.org.np