A group of hooligans attacked the office of Avenues Television located at Maharajgunj, Kathmandu for the news broadcast in the television on September 11. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.

Reporter at the television Raju Bhandari shared with Freedom Forum that the television channel was scheduled to broadcast a news about alleged sexual abuse of girls in Ananta Seva Nepal children's home by its owner Udaya Raj Bhatta at 9:00 pm. The television authority also called the owner Bhatta to speak in the program.

"But before starting the program, 5 to 6 hooligans forcefully tried to open the gate of the media house and pelted stones at the gate. The hooligans sent by Bhatta not only attacked the media house but also manhandled me and my fellow reporter Kamal GC and seized the mobile phone of program presenter Sushil Pande", said Bhandari to FF.

He also informed that Bhatta is in detention at Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharajgunj and the investigation is ongoing.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident becausse the obatruction on reporting on the serious issue- violence againt girls- and assault on journalists and media house is against the notion of free press and right to information.

Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to respect the media's right to free press. Together, media persons are also urged to maintain additional sensitivity and safety while reporting the serious issues as violence.