An unidentified group of persons claiming themselves to be the locals of Dhulikhel municipality of Kavrepalanchok district manhandled four media persons when the latter reached at Dhulikhel hospital to cover the news of protest on August 26, Tuesday. The agitated local people and family members of Sabina Lama who died while undergoing treatment at hospital staged protest against the negligence of doctors.
Kantipur Daily, Annapurna Post Correspondent Kedar Timilsina, Sanjeevanipatra Daily Correspondent Prakash khanal were injured in the manhandling.The armed group assaulted and injured correspondent of Sanjeebanipatra Daily Kaman lama on Wednesday night. “With these series of attacks and threats, working journalists in Kavre district are feeling a sense of insecurity. Police administration has become the mute spectator of such naked violations of press freedom”, he added.
Freedom Forum denounces the incident of manhandling and obstruction caused to journalists who were covering news at the spot. The incident straightly violates journalists’ rights to disseminate information and people’s right to get information and reveals disrespect to press.
The Forum asks all sectors including general public to facilitate a workable environment for journalists to make our society well-informed and let all have access to information. The Forum also demands necessary compensation to injured journalists and strong actions against the guilty.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022