Mithilesh Yadav, reporter with the Nagarik daily from Lahan, a town in the southern plain, was attacked on 21 November while reporting about the exorbitant fee at Lila Madan Polyclinic and Maternity Home Pvt. Ltd. His mobile (Iphone 5S) was also broken in the attack.
Talking to Freedom Forum, reporter Yadav said, "On Monday evening, I reached at Lila Madan Polyclinic to acquire information over a patient's complaint of exorbitant medical fee, showing the hospital bill from a patient. The patient was complaining of 'too much fee for simple treatment'.
"As I inquired Manoj Sah and his brother Dr. Dilip Kumar of the hospital management committee why the treatment fee was so high for minor treatment, a staff named Dhananjaya Yadav appeared all of a sudden and started talking foul on me and kicked me. My mobile was also broken as he attacked me. The patient's relatives rescued me from further injury," reporter Yadav said to FF.
Later reporter Yadav verbally informed Deputy Superintendent of Police, Raj Kumar KC of Area Police Office, Lahan about the attack. In response, DSP KC assured the reporter of investigation on the incident.
Freedom Forum strongly condemns the attack on reporter who was reporting on administrative irregularity of the hospital. FF also urges Nepal Police to seriously investigate the case and bring the assailant to book. Fear-free atmosphere is essential for journalists to boost press freedom and eliminate self-censorship.
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