Freedom Forum has been concerned over the arrest of media person Prapti Sapkota by Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) over the news updated in an online media on August 1 from Kathmandu. CIB took her in detention for eight days.
Sapkota is associated with an online media www.rmkhabar.com
Talking to Freedom Forum, Sapkota said, "CIB arrested me reasoning that I shared a news story relating to rape and murder of 13 year old Nirmala Panta. It accused me for defaming entire police administration. I was arrested and initiated a case under Section 47 of Electronic Transaction Act."
Mother of a two year old baby, Sapkota shared her plight that the Kathmandu District Court issued an order releasing her on bail amount of Rs. 50,000.
Freedom Forum has been expressing severe concern that the ETA Section 47 has been misused frequently by the police administration to harass citizens and journalists. Here too, FF condemns the arrest of the female journalist which is sheer misuse of law. Freedom of expression is curtailed and violated time and again with it. Scrapping Section 47 of ETA is imperative.
Arresting journalist merely for writing and sharing news story is against press freedom, and freedom of expression.
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