Freedom Forum is concerned by an incident where a journalist Kiran Lohani associated with Gorkha Choice FM is said to be misbehaved by Chief Super intendent of Police Bimal Basnet at Palungtar Gorkha. Gorkha district lies in Gandaki Province of Nepal.. The incident occurred on 20th November 2018.
According to the information send by Gandaki Province representative for Freedom Forum Rajan Upadhayay, SP Basnet misbehaved with Journalist Lohani while he was at Palungtar of Gorkha to report the news. He shared that the SP insulted him infront of Chief District Office and other government officers of the district.
Lohani shared that he was forced to take responsibility of the news that was shared in other news portal. "You are against me, do what you want and I will show you what I can do" said representative Upadhyay, quoting SP Basnet.
After the incident a meeting was held on 22nd November in presence of CDO where SP Basnet accepted that he said such thing as a joke to the journalist.
FF condemns the incident as it is the sheer violation of press freedom. Threat and misbehave inflicted to the journalist by security officer is unacceptable. FF urges the concerned authority to investigate the matter seriously and ensure that the journalist be treated respectfully.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np