FNJ condemns mob attack at newspaper office

Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella organization of professional journalists in the country, has condemned the attack that took place on Thursday at the office of Nagarik daily at China Town complex, Sundhara Kathmandu.

In a statement on Thursday, FNJ said the attack by a mob identifying themselves as Shiva Sena Nepal activists at the Nagarik daily office was a testimony of how the Nepali media sector is compelled to work in an ‘unsafe and fearful environment’.

FNJ also condemned the attack against journalists working at Nagarik daily including the broadsheet’s editor and former FNJ Chairman Kishore Nepal.

"The act of physically assaulting a senior media person and his editorial team members, setting ablaze newspapers by taking over news published by any media when there are legal means of registering complaints is refutable and condemnable", FNJ said.

Saying that ‘Sukrabaar, a weekly tabloid published by Nagarik’s and Republica’s publisher New Republic Media crossed the limits of ‘decency’, a group of around 80 persons entered Nagarik daily’s news room at around 2 pm on Thursday, manhandled journalists and staff there and engaged in vandalism at the office.

Demanding that the government take strong legal action against those involved in the incident, the Federation also said the press should be allowed to function in an atmosphere without any fear of attacks or intimidation. Nepalnews.com