(FNJ/IFEX) – On 31 July 2006, a group of about 150 individuals brought work to a complete halt at the Kantipur media complex for over three hours. They were protesting against Kantipur Television’s (KTV’s) news bulletin on the killing of karate player Rakesh Gurung by Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Bahadur Adhikari on the night of […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – On 31 July 2006, a group of about 150 individuals brought work to a complete halt at the Kantipur media complex for over three hours. They were protesting against Kantipur Television’s (KTV’s) news bulletin on the killing of karate player Rakesh Gurung by Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Bahadur Adhikari on the night of 30 July.
The protesters said the news was lopsided and tantamount to a “character assassination” of the deceased Gurung.
According to the “Kathmandu Post”, the mob encircled the complex from 3:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. (local time). The protestors were barred from entering the complex by over 100 policemen who had cordoned off the area. The police, having gotten wind of the protester’s plans, had arrived at around 2 p.m. to thwart them.
The mob briefly pelted stones at the complex, even after a KTV journalist read out an apology for the incomplete news item being protested. Participants burnt tires in the street, bringing traffic to a complete halt in the area, and chanted slogans, such as “Democracy doesn’t mean you can shoot”, and “Shut down Kantipur”.
The KTV news bulletin had presented the police version of the killing of Gurung. Police claim that he was killed in “self-defense”.
Following a dialogue between Kantipur’s senior executives and seven protesters who refused to identify themselves, KTV apologized for the “incomplete news” and said it would air “facts” about the incident in its future news bulletins. Protesters also warned that if KTV did not apologize, a group would invade the Kantipur complex at night.
The mob was gradually cleared by police by 7 p.m.
Earlier, two journalists – one of the daily newspaper “Kantipur” and another of KTV – were targeted while they were covering the protests. Protesters manhandled “Kantipur” journalist Prabesh Subedi at New Baneshwor at 3:30 p.m. Subedi was trying to take photographs of the protests when protesters grabbed him, took his press card from his pocket and roughed him up, saying, “He is from ‘Kantipur’.”
Subedi received an injury to his head and was left with a swollen face and aching body.
Protesters also threatened to beat KTV reporter Sudin Pokharel at Gyaneswor. Pokharel was covering the demonstration when protesters repeatedly threatened to beat him.
This is the second time Kantipur media has been targeted during riots. On 1 September 2004, during protests following the killings of a dozen Nepali laborers by militants in Iraq, a mob vandalized the Kantipur complex and burnt some half-a-dozen vehicles parked inside the complex.
The FNJ condemns these incidents and urges the government to ensure protection for media and journalists.