Editor at Pradeshtimesdainik.com Ram Pukar Yadav received death threat over a news story on July 19. The incident took place in Siraha, Madhesh Province.
According to editor Yadav, the news published on the same day, highlighted irregularities in payments made at the end of fiscal year at Bishnupur Rural Municipality in Siraha. The news quoted complaints from municipality’s staff and clients that payments for completed projects were being withheld while those for incomplete projects were being released.
Following this, a person calling himself Lal Bihari Yadav, a construction contractor, called journalist Yadav at around 9:30 pm and verbally abused him. “He told me his name was Lal Bihari Yadav and that he lived in the border area. He shouted at me and asked whether I was trying to be a hero by publishing such news”, journalist Yadav shared. He added that a political cadre Santosh Yadav and a local Pawan Yadav also threatened the journalist of ‘wiping out his existence’.
On July 20, journalist Yadav registered a complaint at District Police Office, Siraha. Talking to Freedom Forum on July 22, journalist Yadav informed the police were searching for the absconding contractor and his friends.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is a sheer violation of press freedom. The local authority is urged to provide safety to the reporter to avoid untoward incident.
For more,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np