Freedom Forum's stringer for Province 4 Rajan Upadhyay reported that an online portal www.janasanchar.com's editor and reporter Om Hamal and Ramakant Bastola were arrested on November 28 by Nepal Police in Pokhara. Pokhara lies in Province 4 of Nepal.
Stringer Upadhyay said, "They were arrested while working in the office for their alleged contact with Netra Bikram 'Biplav' led Maoist group. However, they were released after 2 hours detention."
Quoting editor Hamal, stringer Upadhyay further said, "He had to face the torture due to weak mechanism of the State's communication. I wish other journalists not victimized this way."
Again, quoting District Police Office's spokesperson Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Khadka Bahadur Khatri, stringer Upadhyay informed that Police had taken them just for inquiry; but as they did not find any proof against their allegation reporters duo were released.
Freedom Forum condemns the arrest of reporters without any legitimate ground of their wrongdoing. Such random arrests and intimidation are violation of press freedom. The mental torture meted out to journalists create psychological threat which is detrimental to free reporting. So, FF urges the security bodies to remain well informed whether anyone is journalist or other.
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