Reporters at Eastern Rukum FM Jitendra Budhathoki and https://www.lumbinivoice.com/ (online news portal) Bikram Pariyar were misbehaved while reporting on May 4. The incident took place in Lumbini Province of Nepal.
Ward chair Sur Bahadur Roka misbehaved and attempted to attack the reporters while reporting in the Puthauttarganga rural municipality for no reason. Later, the ward chair Roka apologized for his misbehavior and expressed commitment to respect journalists' right to free reporting in future.
Freedom Forum is concerned over the incident. While the ward chair's apology is welcoming, being a local representative his knowledge on free press and journalists' rights is worrying. Hence, FF urges the concerned authority to be aware of the right of journalists.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
moitoring@freedomforum.org.np