Police arrest three journalists, search for at least three others in crackdown on media
Summary
Police in Kathmandu arrested three journalists and searched for at least three more from several media outlets, triggering alarm over press freedom and source protection. Journalists’ groups and political leaders condemned the moves as intimidation and demanded due legal process.
Key Points
- Police arrested Bishwamani Subedi, Dhiraj Basnet and Shobharaj Baral while searching for at least three other journalists in Kathmandu.
- Officers also visited the offices of Diyopost.com and Naya Patrika, checking phones and looking for editors and reporters.
- The arrests and searches raised concerns about press freedom, journalists’ privacy and the protection of confidential sources.
- Nepali Congress leader Nain Singh Mahar and Gen-Z Journalists’ Forum Nepal condemned the crackdown and urged the government to respect constitutional press rights.
