Reporter Ajay Kumar Mandal, affiliated with Publickhabar24.com, was assaulted by police personnel in Saptari, Madhesh Province, on November 3.
According to Mandal, the incident occurred at around 1:00 am on November 3, while he was returning home. Police persons on vehicle-checking duty asked him to stop. Although he stopped a little farther away, he immediately returned towards the police. They suddenly started beating him with batons on his back. When Mandal asked reason for attack, they hit him twice more. Mandal told Freedom Forum that there appeared to have been a misunderstanding, but the police beat him despite his attempt to explain.
Injured journalist was taken to Chhinnamasta Hospital, Rajbiraj for treatment. He sustained bruises on his back and elbow in the attack. The police also followed him and his team to the hospital and seized their mobile phones.
Mandal further informed that video footage recorded at the hospital on his office manager's mobile phone was deleted while the device were in police custody for around 20 minutes.
At around 5:00 am, Mandal was taken to the District Police Office, Saptari and held in custody for five hours till 10:00 am. There, he was asked to sign a document stating that both parties had made mistakes. "I was not in a condition to stay at the police station and face further charges, so I agreed to sign the document," Mandal told FF.
He shared that he has been targeted over his reporting on alleged irregularities in the community schools in municipality. A month ago, he was also attacked and his reporting equipment was seized following his reporting. However, the complaint regarding that incident is yet to be registered at the police station, he said.
Freedom Forum condemns the attack upon the reporter. The police must respect citizens' rights and address any misunderstandings through lawful means rather than resorting to violence. Use of force against the journalist and any citizen is unacceptable and undermines fundamental human rights. FF urges the concerned authority to respect journalists right to free and fair reporting.
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