Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 10:

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) today condemned the Maoists for abducting Bikram Giri, a Darchula district reporter of the Kantipur Publications. It also flayed the government for beating 18 journalists in Butwal and Kalaiya, where they were taking out peaceful rallies seeking the freedom of expression. Giri, who was headed for the Kalapani area for reporting, was abducted by a group of Maoists from Byas VDC last Friday. A release issued by the FNJ warned that the media would boycott news related to the Maoists if the latter continued to abduct and harass reporters. Condemning the Maoists for not releasing another Ilam-based reporter, Som Sharma, the FNJ demanded that Sharma be released immediately. Sharma was abducted on May 14.