Nepal Police arrested a reporter at https://www.purbicommand.com/ Samjhana Rai along with two youtubers while covering a protest in Biratnagar on March 15. Biratnagar lies in Province-1 of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, editor of the online news portal Saroj Basnet said that reporter Rai was taking video of a protest by the locals demanding justice to the families of an 18-months old child who was raped and murdered few days ago.

Though the police have arrested the accused, locals have been protesting, demanding compensation to the victim families and severe punishment to the perpetrators.

"I met reporter Rai in the District Police Office today (March 16) and requested the officials to release her as she was just reporting the event but the officers said that they would instead file a case of public offense against the reporter and youtubers for publishing news with names of the victim's parents", added Basnet.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident. Arresting a journalist for covering news is sheer violation of press freedom. The statement of the police also depicts that they have deliberately arrested the reporter among the protestors. Together, journalists should maintain the privacy of victim, considering the sensitivity of the issues.