Reporter Narendra Mahato of Gekhabar.com was subjected to misbehavior while covering a protest in Mahottari, Madhesh Province.
According to Mahato, as shared with Freedom Forum, he had been reporting on a disputed government-owned land issue in the district. Following a court order, the local authorities had begun evicting residents from the land where local communities had been living for a long time. In response, locals staged a protest at the main market from early morning.
Mahato stated that while he was filming the protest, some individuals approached him and verbally abused him, accusing him of being the journalist reporting on the land issue and claiming he should not be allowed to remain at the site. He further reported that they seized his mobile phone and threw it to the ground.
The mobile phone was damaged in the incident. Mahato also informed the local police station about the matter.