Reporter with www.onlinekhabar.com, online media, Krishna Sigdel was barred entry into polling center in Bara district today (September 18). Bara lies in the southern plains of Province 2 in Nepal.
Today, Province 2 is holding the much awaited local level elections. So, the journalists are actively covering news of the gathering of voters, their mobility, and whether they have exercised their voting rights in peaceful atmosphere or not.
Diwakar Bhandari, Bara’s reporter for Annapurna Post said to Freedom Forum, “A dispute arose among the political representatives when one of the political representatives took a senior citizen to the booth for voting. Following the dispute, police officers stopped reporter Sigdel from reporting the incident.”
Thereafter, even Police Inspector denied to allow reporters entry into the polling centers.
Freedom Forum has serious concern over the incident. At a time, when Province 2 is holding election, a democratic exercise, free reporting and ensuring citizen’s access to information is of utmost value. Hence, concerned authorities should learn how to handle the situation and provide easy access to journalists for reporting.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np; info@freedomforum.org.np
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np