Pahal KC, In-Charge of Pathlaiya- based Revenue Investigation Check post, Bardibas, seized the camera possessed by Raj Karan Mahato, reporter with the Annapurna Post daily and right to information campaigner from Mahottari, on February 20, while reporting check post's staff's misbehavior towards a local tractor driver. Mahottari district lies in the southern plains of Nepal.
Talking to Freedom Forum, reporter Mahato said, "While I was taking pictures of a revenue investigation check post's In-Charge KC threatened me why I took picture without his permission, and seized my camera."
Even after informing that he was a reporter with Annapurna Post and an RTI campaigner, he denied and asked me to show ID card, reporter Mahato added.
However, as the locals shouted at KC why he seized journalists' property, KC along with his staffs fled the scene, leaving the camera.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident, as it is an intimidation on journalists' right to free reporting.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np; info@freedomforum.org.np
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np