Milan Pariyar, a correspondent for the daily "Naya Patrika", was assaulted in Silgadhi in connection with a news story he had published.
(Freedom Forum/IFEX) – Freedom Forum is concerned over the ongoing attacks on media outlets and journalists in Nepal. On 6 February 2011, unidentified individuals attacked journalist Durga Bisi of Radio Salyan, in the mid-western district of Salyan. Bisi was attacked as he was returning home from his office. His attackers did not give a reason for their actions. The journalist was seriously injured as his assailants struck him with a sharp weapon on various parts of his body, including his hands, legs and head. He was admitted to the Nepalgunj Hospital.
In a separate incident, also on 6 February, Milan Pariyar, a correspondent for the “Naya Patrika” national daily in Doti, a far western district of Nepal, was assaulted in the town of Silgadhi, which is the district headquarters. According to Pariyar, his own uncle, Basanta Shob, and another individual, Promod Shob, attacked him because of their dissatisfaction with news that was published a month earlier.
In yet another case, Netra Tamang, a correspondent for the “Nagarik” national daily, was robbed by a group of unidentified individuals in Kathmandu on 3 February.
Freedom Forum condemns these attacks on journalists and calls on the government and local authorities to immediately take action against the perpetrators. The organisation views these incidents, which have taken place just three days after the formation of a new government, as a dark sign for media and journalists in Nepal. Freedom Forum urges the new government to implement special measures to address attacks on the press and ensure a media-friendly environment in the days to come.
