An unidentified gang made a murder attempt on Gopal Dewan, publisher and editor of the Biswoshta weekly published from Dharan, an eastern city in the hilly region of Nepal, in the evening of November 10, 2013.
According to editor at the Fast Times daily, Keshav Ghimire, a pillion rider on a motorcycle opened firing at editor Dewan while going to office at a local Chataraline of Dharan in the evening, but he luckily escaped the shot and saved life.
He added that police has formed a team to investigate into the incident.
As the country is engrossed on holding the November 19 Constituent Assembly election, violence has surged up thereby keeping the media at receiving end. The murder attempt on editor Dewan is a part of the violence that has crippled normal life in many parts of the country.
Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the incident as it was not only against media freedom but also the
attack on the inherent right to life.
At a time the role of media is growing in view of making the November 19 election free and fair with the dissemination of credible news, the incident has discouraged journalists working across the country.
The concerned authority is therefore urged strongly to arrest the shooters and bring to book, and provide safety editor Dewan to prevent possible threat/attack.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
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Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np
Email: info@freedomforum.org.np; monitoring@freedomforum.org.np