Kathmandu, February 8:

Leaders of the Federation of Nepali Journalists today termed the arrest of Rishi Dhamala, president, Reporters’ Club Nepal, as a ploy to defame the journalists.

“The timing of the arrest suggests that the government intends to defame Nepali journalists,” FNJ treasurer Ramesh Bista said while addressing an interaction organised at Reporters’ Club here today. Bista was referring to the visit of International Media Mission to Nepal.

“The government’s attempt to seek evidence to establish his crime after arresting Dhamala sounds odd,” he claimed, “Even the International Media Network has pointed fingers at the procedure followed while arresting Dhamala.”

“We will accept the government’s action if it is backed with evidence,” he said, adding that his prosecution should be transparent.

He said the FNJ would be forced to relate the issue with press freedom if the government failed to convince the people about Dhamala’s arrest.

He also asked the government to ensure the detained journo’s right of meeting his well-wishers and allow him to undergo regular health check-ups.

President of Press Chautari Nepal Shambhu Shrestha said that it was the conspiracy on the

part of the government to curb freedom of expression by closing down Reporters’ Club.

He also urged reporters not to rely on the reports of the police and begin an independent probe into the case.

“The evidence against Dhamala is inadequate,” Shrestha commented, adding that the businessman in question had not been identified.

Dev Prakash Tripathi, president of National Network of Weeklies and Fortnightlies, said Dhamala had set up a separate frontier of journalism by establishing Reporters’ Club.

“He was not intellectual but intelligent,” he said. Journalists have worked as mediators in many conflicts and Dhamala could have done the same.

He said the action against Dhamala was intended to defame the journalists who are

fighting against the growing authoritarianism in the country.

Tripathi urged the journalists’ apex body to undertake an independent probe on the matter.