A local Sukmaya Tamang in Kanchapur district issued death threat against editor and publisher of Hello Punarwas weekly and executive editor of the Seti Samachar daily, Ranjit Lama, on March 24 over a news story on a border firing which had claimed a life of a youth. Both the media outlets are run from Kanchanpur, a city situated in the far-west of Nepal.
On a conversation with Freedom Forum, editor Lama shared, "At 4:00 pm Friday, Sukmaya Tamang (aka Kali) called me by a mobile number 9809461166 and threatened me of 'breaking my head and doing whatever she wanted on meeting me'. I am frightened to go to my own home at Punarwas. Some days ago, members of a local struggle committee torched the newspapers and even blocked its circulation."
Journalist Lama further said the local struggle committee members obstructed newspaper circulation, arguing that the news published was not in favour of the country.
FNJ Kanchanpur and Nepali Police have been informed of the threat, he added.
Freedom Forum condemns the attempt of the locals to silence the media, which is indeed a gross violation of press freedom. FF strongly urges the concerned authorities to guarantee security to journalist Lama.
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