Chairperson and executive editor at www.palikasamaya.com Kamal Bahadur Bohara was attacked for his reporting on February 3. The incident took place in the federal capital, Kathmandu.
Talking to Freedom Forum, editor Bohara shared that news about encroachment of public spaces by business owners and Mayor Balendra Shah’s ignorance on the issue was published on the news website on February 1. Then, on the day of incident, a person calling himself supporter of the Mayor called editor Bohara to meet him and threatened him for writing news on Mayor Shah.
As editor Bohora was on his way back home, a group fo four persons surrounded him and hit him on the chest. He also reported local police stations about the incident.
“Though I am not sure whether the attackers were Mayor’s supporters, but I suspect due to their threatening calls after the news publication. So, I am awaiting police response upon my complaint”, Bohora informed FF.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident. Attacking a journalist for news reporting is sheer violation of press freedom. FF strongly urges the concerned authority to fairly investigate the incident and help ensure safety of the journalist. Similarly, those having dissatisfaction over news content can resort to legitimate way of complaint rather than resort to physical assault to reporter.
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monitoring@freedomforum.org.np