Karnali Province-based reporter with Annapurna Post, Bisna Prasad Neupane was abused on social media over his reporting.
Reporter Neupane told Freedom Forum that he had covered a news story on the alleged fraud committed by advocate Anil Bahadur Shahi against the public seeking legal services in Surkhet. The report was published in the Annapurna Post national daily on July 25.
Following the publication, advocate Shahi and his relatives posted abusive and offensive remarks targeting the reporter on social media. In response, Neupane lodged a cybercrime complaint against advocate Shahi at the District Police Office, Surkhet.
On July 27, DPO facilitated a discussion between reporter and advocate. During the meeting, advocate Shahi wrote a written apology and agreed not to make any social media posts targeting journalists in the future, according to reporter Neupane.
Freedom Forum is concerned over the growing number of incidents where journalists face intimidation on social media because of their reporting. Such online attacks against media persons undermine press freedom and increase the risk of self-censorship.
For more,
Freedom Forum