Chairperson and operator at htpkhabar.com, Diwakar Sah and his cameraperson Manoj Pariyar were manhandled while reporting in the Infrastructure Development Office in Jaleshwor, Mahottari on the night of July 7. The incident took place in Madhesh Province of Nepal.
Sah had received a tip-off regarding alleged irregularities at the office and informed both the District Administration Office and the District Police Office, requesting security for reporting. He reached the site along with a police officer to record activities in the office late at night.
According to Sah, office staff were providing payments to vendors at the end of the fiscal year and were allegedly demanding commissions to release the payments. As journalists Sah and Pariyar attempted to speak with the office chief, a group calling themselves members of a consumers’ committee stopped them. The group questioned the journalists, “Who are you? Have you taken permission to enter the office at this late hour? Is this time for reporting? Will you pay our loss if the office does not pay us?”
The group manhandled the journalists and damaged their camera and microphone. Then, Sah began a live broadcast with his mobile phone for his safety. “Though police officers were present, they did not intervene. We have been targeted ever since we broadcasted critical news about the police office,” Sah said.
While Sah escaped major attack, cameraperson Pariyar sustained a minor head injury. “Our reporting equipment has been damaged. I have turned off my mobile and am trying to leave the area as I donot feel safe,” Sah informed Freedom Forum.
The incident was also raised in the Parliament on July 9.
Freedom Forum strongly condemns the incident. It is deeply concerning that journalists were manhandled while reporting at a public place despite prior notice to the police. FF urges the security and local administration authorities to ensure adequate safety to investigative journalists. Equally, we request the journalist to abide by the journalistic code while reporting.
FF is investigating the incident and will make follow up gradually.
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