(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES is concerned about the ongoing attempts to harass journalists while they are reporting on the news. The organisation calls on the concerned authorities to ensure that justice is served and due process is followed. The local administration has released Navaraj Pahadi, local reporter for the daily “Kantipur”, in the western district of […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES is concerned about the ongoing attempts to harass journalists while they are reporting on the news. The organisation calls on the concerned authorities to ensure that justice is served and due process is followed.
The local administration has released Navaraj Pahadi, local reporter for the daily “Kantipur”, in the western district of Lamjung, after keeping him in custody for five days. Pahadi, chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ (FNJ) local chapter, was arrested by security personnel on the charge of publishing news articles. Pahadi had reported on the arrest and release of a woman charged with being a pro-Maoist activist. He was released unconditionally by the administration.
Jaya Prakash Kausal, a local politician, has been remanded in custody as per the 14 February 2002 orders of the Rautahat District Court. Kausal had appeared before the court after a case was filed against him for his alleged involvement in the murder of journalist Shambhu Patel in the district.
Patel, who was vice-president of the Nepal Press Union’s local chapter and a local reporter for state-owned Radio Nepal, was shot dead in his own house at the Gaur district headquarters in January 2000. The court has yet to deliver the final verdict on the Patel murder case.
