Photo : Reporters submitting letter of concern to the CDO Yubaraj Kattel
A group of journalists received death threats while covering river excavation in Morang on April 28. Morang is locateed in the Koshi Province, Nepal.
Dumarlal Mehta, a reporter at Ajakoupdate.com told Freedom Forum that seven reporters reched the site to cover ongoing excavation in the local Lohandra River where workers were extracting sand and loading onto trucks. They were- Dipendra Kumar Sah (Breakingnepalnews.com), Bramha Dev Mahato (Namoonline), Santosh Mehta (New Drishti), Mohan Dhakal (Sangalo khabar), Nagendra Khadka and Prabesh Timsina (Shabda Express) including Dumarlal Mehta.
Reporter Mehta said, “During a monitoring visit by the District Administration Office a few days ago, authorities found excavation reaching around 25–30 feet deep and instructed the operator to stop, as it was not allowed. While we were speaking with the workers on-site, a group of 10 to 12 people approached us and asked if we were journalists. They then, began threatening us saying- What do you know to report here? Leave the place and do not come next time, or we will kill you."
"Meanwhile, Gramthan Rural Municipality Chairperson Namonarayan Majhi also arrived and said that if even national leaders could be beaten, those who come without their permission- even journalists- could face the same. We then left the area and reached a nearby police station", Mehta added.
The journalists, later submitted a letter of concern to Chief District Officer Yubaraj Kattel seeking protection. CDO Kattel assured them of a fair investigation into the case, according to Mehta.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident. Reporting on matters of public concern is a fundamental right of journalists. FF strongly urges the local administration to conduct a fair investigation and ensure the safety of journalists while reporting.
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