Ghanshyam Paudel, reporter for Sudur Sandesh Daily published from Masuriya, Kailali was abducted by the members of Panchawati Community Forest User Group on May 23, Saturday.
According to Shivaraj Bhatta, editor of Sudur Sandesh, the office-bearers of proposed Panchawati community forest users group abducted journalist Poudel following the publication of news on chopping down of 300 standing trees of the forest in the newspaper.
The District Forest Department took under control Chairman of the Community forest Dambar Bogati following the publication of the news.
After the incident, Poudel was taken to the Pahalmanpur area forest to pressure for their demands. The people loaded in six tractors had gone to Pahalmanpur
Freedom Forum condemns the incident of harassing journalist for exposing reality through publishing news and urges the Forest User Group to immediately release him without any condition.
Forum also draws the attention of local administration to punish the guilty as soon as possible and ensure workable environment for journalists.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022