Bimal Bista, a correspondent for the "Nepal Samachar patra" newspaper, was brutally beaten and taken into custody by the Nepal Police.
(FNJ/IFEX) – Bimal Bista, a councilor and member of the Federation of Nepali Journalists’ (FNJ) Doti Branch and a correspondent for the “Nepal Samachar patra” newspaper, was brutally beaten and taken into custody by the Nepal Police on 23 August 2009, without any reasons given. Bista had gone to gather information regarding quarrels between local residents when the police detained him, put him inside a police van and then started beating him.
FNJ strongly condemns the police actions which violate the rights of press freedom and freedom of expression. FNJ also feels that these actions clearly violate the journalist’s right to collect news and the public’s right to seek information. The organisation demands a proper investigation into the actions against Bista and that the guilty police officers be punished. FNJ is also calling for Bista’s immediate release.