Editor and reporters at www.diyopost.com received threat for publishing news on July 26. The incident took place in the media house located at the federal capital city Kathmandu of Bagmati Province.

Talking to Freedom Forum, editor at the news portal Sudip Bishwakarma shared that they have been publishing critical news about a religious leader Bijay Bhandari.

On July 18 and July 25, Diyopost published two news mentioning Bijay Bhandari, recently changed name ‘Yogishwor Bijay Krishnamurti Maharaj’ as a fraudster for collecting huge amount of money from the general public in the name of religion. Bhandari is also manager of the Manav Sewa Foundation, an organizer of the ‘Kotihome’, a ceremony ongoing at Pashupatinath Temple.

After publication of news, media coordinator of the foundation Ashmita Poudel called editor Bishwakarma and asked him to remove the news from website. She also threatened him through message on Whatsapp to visit the temple to talk in detail.

Thereafter on the day of incident, four people including Poudel reached the office of Diyopost online. “Coordinator Poudel again asked me to delete all the news from online. I told her to adopt legitimate way for any objection on the news instead”, shared editor Bishwakarma. Three men staying in the lobby also tried to enter the room forcefully and spoke foul in the newsroom threatening the reporters Khuma Oli and Tekman Shakya.

Freedom Forum condemns the intimidation of journalists inside media house. There is a provision to refute the news in a legitimate manner. But threatening journalists, and ordering them to remove news content is a gross violation of press freedom.

Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to pay attention to ensure safety of the journalists.