Reporter Dinesh Dulal of Sindhujwala online was publicly misbehaved in Sindhupalchowk, Bagmati Province on September 29.
Speaking to Freedom Forum, reporter Dulal said the incident was linked to a news report published in the weekly newspaper two years ago. The report covered a protest by locals against Ward Chairperson Ramesh Raut over extension of a transmission line.
On the day of incident, Dulal was reporting on an ongoing election of a political party in Barhabise, Sindhupalchowk. When he approached the Chairperson, Raut verbally abused the journalist and said, "Who do you think you are to shake hands with me?"
Freedom Forum is concerned about the incident. Resentment among local representatives toward journalists can have a serious impact on free and independent reporting of issues of public interest at the local level.
FF urges the local authorities to cooperate with journalists and respect their role making citizens' informed of public issues.
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