Keshab Raj Joshi, a reporter for ABC Television and Executive Editor of local Janakranti Daily, was misbehaved and subsequently threatened with life by Acting Chief of Livestock Quarantine, Prayag Raj Bhatta, at Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur - a western plain district of Nepal - on May 15.
Bhatta abused journalist Joshi and threatened to take life when his (Bhatta's) involvement in a corruption case and his remarks alleging Gautam Buddha as a corrupt person was disseminated through ABC channel and local newspaper. Bhatta issued death threat to Joshi while discussion was being held in the District Administration Office regarding the controversial remarks by Bhatta.
Freedom Forum expresses concern over the incident of death threat to journalist regarding the coverage of news and asks the local administration to pay attention on the physical safety of journalist Joshi. It is condemnable act to target journalist over the issue of news content instead of going through the legal recourse if the news is not deemed factual and reliable.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022