Since the evening of August 9th, journalists have been engaged in a protest seeking the preservation of press freedom amidst an environment of intimidation instigated by the police and administrative authorities.
The media, a stalwart participant in all democratic movements, commenced their demonstration by illuminating candles to underscore the urgency of press freedom in the face of mounting insecurity.
The assembly of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists in Saptari on August 9th collectively resolved to embark on a protest, firmly asserting their stance against any encroachments on press freedom. This decision stemmed from a distressing incident that transpired within the district police office on July 31st, where Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Rajeshwar Mahato subjected Manohar Kumar Pokharel—advisor to the Nepal Journalist Federation in Saptari and a representative of INSEC—to physical aggression, striking a sensitive area with his boot and attempting to inflict harm. Pokharel underwent medical treatment at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital in Rajbiraj.
In a parallel occurrence, journalists Brijman Tamang and Dumbar Rai were obstructed from accessing the district administration office on August 6th while attempting to gather news. The district administration office, having sequentially engaged in acts of aggression, misconduct, and prohibitions against journalists, issued a directive on August 9th asserting the intention to take punitive measures against those who captured photos and videos within the premises without official authorization, subsequently disseminating them across social media, online platforms, and newspapers.
Shrawan Dev, Chairperson of the Nepal Journalist Federation in Saptari, conveyed that due to the non-retraction of the aforementioned directive by 8 pm on August 9th, a phased protest was initiated.
Vice-Chairperson of the Federation in Saptari, Baidyanath Yadav, emphasized that journalists are mobilizing in defense of press freedom and autonomy, viewing these actions as necessary to counter attempts at constraining the liberty of the press and the right to expression.
In response to the assault on Pokharel, a coalition including INSEC, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, six political parties, and numerous organizations have unequivocally condemned the incident, collectively demanding stringent measures against the perpetrators. The Community Service Center in Saptari, with the Superintendent of Police as its guardian, has asserted its decision to abstain from participating in any police-related activities or events until resolute action is undertaken against those responsible for the assault on Pokharel.
