Journalists Radheshyam Bishwakarma of AP1 Television and Deepak Ghimire of Image Television were attacked in Rupandehi on August 5 while covering news stories and capturing videos of the students protesting the death of fellow student at a local hospital.
Information sent by the Freedom Forum’s Representative of Province 5, Sudeep Gautam, journalists Bishwakarma and Ghimire were attacked by the protesting students. They also damaged their video equipment.
Students protested at the Universal College of Medical Sciences of Bhairahawa city after the death of Mahadev Shah,22, a 4th year student of Bachelors of Dental Surgery and damaged hospital’s properties at ICU, CCU and Hemodialysis on August 5.
The local journalist Salman Khan was also misbehaved in the incident. Later, the journalists registered the complaint at the Office of Chief District Officer (CDO) and the CDO Office is learnt to have initiated investigation on the assault.
Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the attack on the journalists and demands urgent action from the authorities to book the attackers. It is the sheer violation of press freedom and freedom of information. The journalist is in need of due compensation to the damaged equipment. Such activities not only discourage free reporting but also contribute to self-censorship, which is against the media freedom and professionalism.
For further 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;