Dinanath Baral, a reporter for "Radio Annapurna" was severely beaten up by an unknown person in Pokhara, headquarters of western development region of Nepal, on September 15.
Journalist Baral was en route to his office after reporting the 15th general convention of District Badminton Association, Kaski at the time he was thrashed. According to journalist Baral, an unknown person on a motorbike stopped him using indecent words and started beating all of sudden. Reporter Baral has sustained injuries on his face and his helmet is also damaged. His treatment is undergoing at Fistel Hospital, Pokhara.
"As the incident took place during the course of reporting, I can say that the incident is somewhere connected to my profession, i.e., reporting," said journalist Baral to Press Freedom Monitoring Desk over phone.
Police confiscated the motorbike that was used by assailant during the attack. However, person engaged in the incident is yet to be arrested.
Freedom Forum is concerned over the incident and asks local authority to investigate into the incident to bring the guilty to book. Attacking journalist in a deliberate manner is condemnable and it curtails press freedom. Freedom Forum urges the security bodies to ensure the security of concerned journalist in the days to come.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022