Journalist fighting for women rights killed in Janakpur
Uma Singh, a Janakpur-based journalist who regularly wrote on women's
rights issues, was killed by a group of unidentified attackers Sunday
night.
Singh, 26, succumbed to the wounds she received in an attack by a group of
unidentified persons Sunday night in southern Nepal town of Janakpur.
Reports said that the attackers forcibly entered her apartment in Rajoula
of Janakpur Municipality-14 and hacked her with sharp weapons.
Singh had multiple injuries on her head, neck and shoulders when she was
found.
She died while being taken to capital for treatment after doctors at the
Janakpur District hospital where she was first taken couldn't stabilize
her condition.
Police said they were investigating the case, but are clueless regarding
the motive behind the murder.
Journalist Singh, who worked with a local FM radio station, reported on
women's rights and spoke out against the traditional dowry system
practiced in Tarai districts of the country.
Originally from Mirchaiya of Siraha district, Singh was forced to leave
her hometown after her father and elder brother were forcibly disappeared
from their homes three years ago. The Singh family accuse Maoists of being
involved in the disappearance of the father-son duo.
Reports from Janakpur said that the town is mourning the murder of one of
its fearless journalist.
Family members as well as local journalists took out a funeral procession
and went to picket the District Administration Office in protest against
the murder.
Local FM radio station in Janakpur have only been airing mourning tunes
interspersed with news bulletin since early morning.
Meanwhile, Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ), the umbrella
organization of journalists in Nepal, expressed deep regret over the
killing. Journalists affiliated with FNJ took out a protest rally in
Kathmandu at 2 pm to protest the brutal murder of one of their colleague.
Reports said similar protests rally have been taken out in Sarlahi, Siraha
and Saptari districts. nepalnews.com Jan 11 09
