Police subjected journalists to beatings on April 15 at the District Police Office while they were reporting on a clash that occurred on April 12 between Hindu and Muslim communities in front of the Jama Masjid near Shriram Hall in Birgunj Metropolitan City-2. The clash occurred after a religious procession organized by the World Hindu Council Nepal, Birgunj Metropolitan Committee, reached the Jama Masjid area. Birgunj Metropolitan City remained tense on April 15 due to the ongoing dispute. Journalists including Arjun Gupta of Avenues Television, Anil Ojha of Madhya Nepal Sandesh, and Dhirendra Tiwari, editor of Chandrasurya Bani Daily, were baton-charged by the police during their coverage of the situation.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Parsa, issued a memorandum on April 15 condemning the incident. In the memorandum, Bijay Kumar Mahato, Secretary of the Federation, expressed concern over the targeting of journalists by both protesters and police with stones and batons during news reporting. The memorandum further emphasizes that the police administration, responsible for ensuring the safety of both citizens and journalists, must guarantee a secure and fear-free environment for journalists to gather and disseminate news. Additionally, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Parsa, has demanded the identification of those responsible for the incident and called for legal action against them.