DHANGADHI: Alleging that the committee formed to probe into the murder of Kailali-based journalist JP Joshi was not making the report public even after six months, the journalists in the far-western region have resumed their agitation. They have also accused the probe committee of corruption.

All eight chapters of FNJ in the far-west have begun a week-long agitation from Sunday. FNJ Kailali today visited Joshi's mother and wife. The journalists also organised separate corner meetings in Attariya Chowk along the Mahendra Highway and LN Chowk of Dhangadhi. Central vice-chairman, Press Chautari, Hemanta Poudel blamed that despite spending Rs 3.2 million on investigation, the probe committee led by Umesh Gautam did not make public the report. He demanded an immediate compensation to the victim's family.

Jagat Saud, Press Union chairman, Kailali, accused the committee of misusing the government fund. He was also dubious about the biasness of the report if prepared. Manamohan Swar, FNJ coordinator there said that Joshi's family was yet to accomplish the final rites of the dead as the body had not been handed to the family. Umid Wagchand, vice-president, FNJ showed the need to report the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority about the corruption.

A joint press release has condemned the misuse of fund by the probe committee. The statement further mentioned that the government was reluctant to give compensation to the victim but provided huge amount for the probe.

Further, as part of the protest programme, the protesters would expose various scandals of the government and the probe committee on January 17, 18 and 19, would send broken spectacles to the government on January 20, send earphone on January 21, collect Rs 1 from journalists and send the collected sum to the government on January 22.