Freedom Forum is preparing to file habeas corpus writ in the Supreme Court on February 4, Wednesday on behalf of three detained journalists- Rishi Dhamala, Subhak Mahato and Birendra KM-demanding their immediate release. Metropolitan Police Range Office, Kathmandu, arrested President of Reporters Club Nepal, Rishi Dhamala on charge of his involvement on criminal activities in a kidnapping style. Police arrested him at around 5.45 PM citing investigations on criminal case and security-related matters.
Earlier, the police arrested member of Online Media Association Shubhak Mahato and journalists Manoj Mahato and Birendra KM. Subhak Mahato was arrested on Tuesday afternoon while Journalist duo Manoj Mahato and KM were apprehended from Teku in the capital on February 2, Monday. They all were arrested in connection with the same case, said police.
The police on civil dress arrested Dhamala from his office at Putalisadak in the capital. Superintendent of Police Nawa Raj Silwal, chief of the Range Office, declined to divulge details about the subject of the investigations when asked after the arrests of journalists.
Journalists were denied to meet with Dhamala. Freedom Forum condemns the arrest of journalists in a filmy way and asks concerned authority to immediately make public their condition and furnish explicit reasons for the arrests.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022