Yet again, the federal capital Kathmandu has turned the most hostile place to on-duty journalists, spreading alarm over safety and press freedom. A reporter with the Prime Times Television, Sabina Karki, was injured while reporting a protest in Kathmandu on April 27.
Karki was reporting on protest of the teachers at New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. During the protest, clash broke among police persons and protesting teachers when they tried to break the police barricade in a restricted area.
Thereafter, police launched baton charging at the teachers. Meanwhile, reporter Karki was injured in her eyes with water cannon targeted to the agitating teachers. A policeperson rushed her to the Tilganga Eye Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment. She is receiving treatment now and her right eye is severely injured.
The Teachers’ Federation Nepal has been staging protest for the past 25 days, demanding introduction of a new School Education Act that addresses their demands.
Freedom Forum deplores the incident. Journalists have always been at risk of attack while covering the protest. The media houses should keep journalists’ safety in priority when they are reporting protest. Also the police persons are repeatedly urged to differentiate journalists while taming mob.
FF wishes speedy recovery to journalist Karki.
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