On January 24, Prem Bahadur Shrestha, an agent at Raj Overseas of Jhapa, a district in the eastern plains of Nepal, issued a death threat to Bishnu Prasad Poudel, a reporter with a local Purva Sandesh daily over a news report on confiscation of passports by the company.
Talking to Freedom Forum's Media Monitoring Desk, reporter Poudel said, "On the very day the news was published, manpower company's agent, Shrestha, came to my office and said he would take my life at any time reasoning the news will damage the reputation of his company."
Reporter Poudel added that Shrestha threatened him before the editor in the office. He also complained that the district police office has not been serious on it despite complaint.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it has violated the press freedom and thrown life threat to a working journalist. The district administration and police office must take immediate initiatives to fend off any attack on reporter Poudel.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np
Email: monitoring@freedomforum.org.np; info@freedomforum.org.np;