Reporter to https://laikakhabar.com/ Bal Bahadur Thapa was attacked while reporting in Surkhet on February 13. Surkhet lies in Karnali Province of Nepal.

Reporter Thapa was attacked while reporting on a protest in Birendranagar, Surkhet. Local people had staged a protest following road accident, causing a death of a woman. After her death, relatives of deceased blocked the road section since February 12 demanding compensation and punishment to the driver.

During the protest, clash broke among the relatives and transport entrepreneurs’ staffs. Reporter Thapa was recording video of the victims being attacked by the staffs. Meanwhile, the staffs threatened Thapa to stop recording the video and delete it. As Thapa refused to stop reporting, they pounded him with iron rod, bottle and shovel.

Thapa has received injuries on his head and back. The incident took place in front of police persons.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident. Attack upon a working journalist is a blatant violation of press freedom and journalists' right to free reporting. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to investigate upon the case and ensure safety of the journalists covering protest.