A complaint was filed against a group including 35-year-old Dipesh Yadav of Garkatti, Mayadevi Rural Municipality–7 at the District Police Office on April 22 for misbehaving with journalist Radheshyam Bishwakarma,42 of Gonahiya, Siddharthanagar Municipality–9. The journalist was subjected to mistreatment for allegedly filming a video of smuggling in Makari, Mayadevi Rural Municipality–6. While on his way to report on a program attended by Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, journalist Radheshyam Bishwakarma was surrounded and attacked by a group of alleged smugglers led by Dipesh Yadav on April 21. They accused him of recording a video of smuggling and seized his camera, motorcycle key, and press ID. According to Bishwakarma, the incident occurred on the Bhairahawa Marchabar road. He informed INSEC that the group forced him to delete the footage captured on his camera, threatening to damage it if he refused. He added that the group misbehaved with him, searched his bag, and took his press ID and motorcycle key in the presence of police sub-inspector Bishnu Raut Chhetri. However, the police did not intervene.
Various journalist organizations, including the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Rupandehi, Press Union, Press Chautari, and the Madhesi Patrakar Samaj, issued a joint press release condemning the incident. The press release signed by CP Khanal, Secretary of FNJ Rupandehi called for an investigation and action against the security personnel who stood by without intervening during the attack on press freedom.
Regarding the incident, SP Ranjit Singh Rathor of the District Police Office stated that the locals took away the camera, claiming the video was recorded without their consent, and forced the journalist to delete it. He added that the camera was returned only after the police arrived at the scene. Additionally, they are looking for the absconding accused.