Yet again, a news story of journalist's arrest has come from Province No 2 of Nepal.
Freedom Forum's Stringer at Province No 2, Ajay Saha, informed that Sudarshan Pande, editor of Utthan weekly and reporter of Rato Khabar weekly, was arrested from his home in the night of December 4, three days before the second round of election to the House of Representatives and provincial parliament.
After the detainment, the police had initiated a charge of public offense. "It was held without arrest warrant. While reaching the police office, I was handed the arrest warrant mentioning that I was a cadre of the Maoist party led by Biplav," Pande shared the plight with reporter Saha.
Later, he was released on December 24, imposing the fine of Rs 1,000.
He was held reasoning that he involved in the activities against election.
Such harassment of journalists continued during the election. Several journalists were held without sufficient ground that they acted against election.
Freedom Forum urges the security persons to respect press freedom and journalists' rights and maintain a proper measure that does not violation press freedom.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np
Email: monitoring@freedomforum.org.np; info@freedomforum.org.np;