Radheshyam Bishwakarma, a reporter with AP1 TV and the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), faced harassment while covering an event in Rupandehi district on April 21. Rupandehi district lies in Lumbini Province of Nepal.
Reporter Bishwakarma shared with Freedom Forum that while reporting on an official visit of Minister for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, he noticed the presence of some miscreants at the venue and began recording their activities.
“Meanwhile, leader of the group Dipesh Yadav seized my camera, press identity card, and motorbike key. They even called a police officer from a nearby police station and forced me to delete the recorded footages”, reporter Bishwakarma informed, “I was surprised to see the police officer’s silence in the incident. He deleted the photos and videos from the camera and returned my belongings.”
Thereafter, I reported the incident at the District Police Office. Deputy Superintendant of Police assured me of the group’s arrest and asked me to file a First Information Report against Yadav. But, when I called the police station to inquire about Yadav’s arrest, they said that he was yet to be arrested.
Reporter Bishwakarma has planned to meet the Chief District Officer today (April 22).
According to Rupandehi police spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police Suraj Karki, Yadav was arrested from the Nepal-India border area on April 24.
Freedom Forum strongly condemns the intimidation of journalist. The security authority should be responsible for safety and security of journalists and citizens. The incident is a gross violation of press freedom.
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