Lav Dev Dhungana of "Kantipur Daily" had gone to the Jorpokhari-Yoyam roadway construction site to prepare a report on alleged financial irregularities surrounding the project.
(Freedom Forum/IFEX) – 19 March 2011 – Freedom Forum has again witnessed a press freedom violation incident in Panchthar, a hilly district in the eastern region of Nepal.
On 13 March 2011, journalist Lav Dev Dhungana, who is affiliated with “Kantipur Daily”, was roughed up by an individual named Kamal Neupane and two other persons who seized his camera. The assailants demanded that the journalist delete an image of the Jorpokhari-Yoyam roadway construction site in the district.
Dhungana told Freedom Forum that Neupane, a member of the roadway construction committee, has been linked to financial irregularities at the site. “Neupane threatened me, warning me to delete the images or face dire consequences,” the journalist said.
Freedom Forum condemns the treatment of Dhungana and urges the construction committee to provide the journalist with the information he requested, which is of great importance to the public.
