Laba Dev Dhungana, a journalist affiliated to a local Kanchanjungha Times daily of Panchthar, a district in the eastern hilly region of Nepal, was attacked over a news reporting, in the evening of April 12.
According to Jitendra Bhandari, reporter for the National News Agency (RSS), Chairperson of District Sports Development Committee, Yogendra Saoden Lenjo, Member Secretary Matrika Dahal and another local Chandra Tamang thrashed Dhungana, reasoning the news published in the Kanchanjungha Times. The attackers are all affiliated to the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
Injured severely in the attack, journalist Dhungana was rushed to Neuro Hospital of Biratnagar, a city in the southern plains on Sunday itself.
If the attackers had any objection to the content of the published news, they could take alternative measure to show discontent, but immediate attack on journalist over news is against press freedom.
Meanwhile, the district police have arrested all three attackers on Monday morning.
Freedom Forum condemns the attack, and strongly urges the concerned authority as security agency to fairly investigate into the case and bring the attackers to book.
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