Reporters with different online television channels Dipesh Raj Pandey, Hari Prarsad Pathak and Dasharath Bhandari were brutally attacked while reporting in Kathmandu on February 1. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.
Vice president at the Online Television Journalists Association Kushluv KC told Freedom Forum that the reporters were attacked while reporting on the complaints of the people duped by a human resource organization, Triple Star Manpower, at its office. The organization's staffs and supporters attacked the reporters. The Manpower company was complained of defrauding in the name of foreign employment.
The reporters sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at Greencity Hospital, according to KC. KC added that they registered a complaint at the Metropolitan Police Office against the attackers. Following this, the owner of the company was arrested on February 3.
Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the attack as it is a gross violation of press freedom. Attacking journalists and obstructing them from doing their job is against the constitutionally guaranteed rights of press freedom. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to carry out fair investigation of the incident and punish the assailants.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np