RAJBIRAJ: Participants at a programme organised to mark the death anniversary of journalist Uma Singh said that the government was not serious about the security of mediapersons.

Senior journalist Shivahari Prasad Bhattarai said the journalists were being attacked continuously, proving that the government was not serious about their security. ''Journalists are being thrashed and manhandled frequently but the government has not been able to guarantee their security,'' he said.

Surendra Prasad Gupta, advisor, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Saptari Chapter, said criminals were attacking journalists openly due to the government's failure to take stern action against them. ''The government has not been able to bring assailants to book,'' he added. Avasetu Singh, a woman journalist, opined that following the code of conduct was the main armour of journalists.

Central representative of FNJ Hem Shankar Singh announced the establishment of a prize worth Rs 5,555 in honour of Uma Singh, who was murdered in course of her fight for the cause of women and the Dalits. He said the prize would be given away on every death anniversary of late Singh. Hem Shankar is also the editor of local weekly Madhesh Kranti.

Meanwhile, Saptari chairman of Sports Journalists' Forum Manoj Kumar Majhi announced a grant to one journalist annually through 'Active Women Journalists' Group.'