Journalists Karna Bishwakarma and Khadka Bishwakarma received death threat for publishing a news article on April 30 in Kalikot. Kalikot lies in Karnali Province of Nepal.
Freedom Forum representative for the provine, Laxmi Bhandari reported that journalist duo had published news titled- Commission scandal from the Former Chief Minister to local leaders’: hundreds of thousands extorted from schools in Raskot. The news described involvement of Former Chief Minister and local leaders in extorting money from community schools luring them of allocating various projects in schools.
Editor at the news portal Karna Bishwakarma shared with representative Bhandari that Mayor Dharmaraj Shahi threatened both the journalists over the phone. “Mayor Shahi threatened to cut off their hands and kill them”, said Bhandari, quoting Editor Bishwakarma, “The mayor even attempted to frame the journalists by creating a fake payment voucher from the municipality in their names.”
Journalists have informed the local administration and police about the incident, seeking protection.
Freedom Forum condemns the threat issue to reporter. Issuing death threat to journalists for news is an absolute violation of press freedom. Such incidents may create fear among fellow journalists and induce self-censorship. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to ensure security of the journalists to avoid untoward incidents.
Local leaders are also urged to approach Press Council Nepal to express their dissent on the news.
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