Police block agitating journos

Panchthar, May 16

Police blocked journalists who reached the District Administration Office to protest against the Media Council Bill recently presented in the Parliament, in Panchthar, today.

Nepal Police and Armed Police Force blocked journalists who had reached the DAO premises to stage a sit-in.

The police team led by SI Dhiraj Rai obstructed journalists. Journalists organised a corner meet after security personnel blocked them from entering the DAO premises.

Province members of the Federation of Nepali Journalists — Dipendra Gautam and Ganesh Sampang, district member Lawadev Dhungana and district Chairman Bhim Bahadur Baskota addressed the corner meet.

Speakers at the meeting said they would not halt the protest until the government, which boasted a thumping two-thirds majority, amended the newly tabled Media Council Bill. They further stated that deploying security personnel to control mediapersons reflected the undemocratic characteristic of the government and the local administration.

The rally had started from the office of Nepal Press Union, Loktantra Chowk before reaching the district administration office and turning into a corner meet.