Freedom Forum's stringer for Province 2, Ajay Shah, reported that Anup Tiwari, reporter with Radio Birgunj and Mountain TV was attacked by a gang on 5 June while he was having dinner with his friends at a hotel in Birgunj, a city in the southern plain of Nepal.
Stringer Shah quoted reporter Tiwari as saying, “While I was taking dinner with my friends, a group of 7 to 8 persons come on motorcycles barged into the hotel. Three of them approached me and accused me of involvement in anti-Madhesh activity by writing news against Madhesi community. They, then, spilled petroleum product on my face and body."
Stringer Shah added that among the assailants, reporter Tiwari managed to identify three persons as Sujit Giri, Ejaj Babu Raki and Krishna Chaurasiya.
Citing Tiwari, Shah added, “Some days ago, Sujit Giri had threatened him through Facebook with abusive words for reporting against Madhesi community.”
Tiwari has lodged a complaint on 6 June in the nearby police station, Parsa, informing about the incident.
Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the attack on journalist. Attack on a journalist merely because of their profession -their right to free reporting- is a serious concern. It is a sheer violation of press freedom. FF urges the concerned bodies to investigate into the case and respect journalists' right to free reporting. The local authorities must stay informed to provide security by obviating further attack.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np