Cops manhandle THT scribe
Bhairahawa, January 23:
The Rupandehi-based reporter of The Himalayan Times, Mahendra Thapa, was injured in a police baton-charge while covering a protest rally of the Joint Agitation Students’ Committee in Butwal today.
Thapa sustained injuries in the head, knee and his left hand. He returned home after treatment at the Lumbini zonal hospital.
Soon after the rally began, police started beating protesters and pelting stones at them. Innocent bystanders at Chauraha were also not spared, Thapa said, adding he was beaten up at Milan Chowk.
“I was standing some 300 metres away from the starting point of the rally when the police attacked me. They refused to relent even after I told them that I was a journalist. I also showed my identity card but it was no use,” Thapa said.
Meanwhile, the Rupandehi chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) issued a statement after holding an emergency meeting today and demanded action against the errant policemen.
DSP of the Area Police Office, Butwal, Deepak Kumar Thapa apologised for the incident in front of the representatives of FNJ, Rupandehi. DSP Thapa has also promised to help in the treatment of journalist Thapa and assured that such incidents would not be repeated in future, said the secretary of Rupandehi FNJ, Deepak Gyanwali. The Rupandehi chapter of the Nepal Press Union also issued a statement condemning the incident.