Date: July 27, 2026

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has drawn serious attention to incidents in which journalists working in different districts have been threatened and subjected to abusive behavior over news reports.

According to the FNJ Kalikot Branch, following the publication of a news report titled "Advocate Shahi Running a Fraud Business Wearing the Black Coat" in Annapurna Post Daily on July 26, 2026, Advocate Anil Bahadur Shahi and his relatives verbally abused and hurled baseless allegations at the newspaper's correspondent and Secretary of the FNJ Karnali Province Committee, Bisna Prasad Neupane, using insulting language.

Similarly, on the same day, Dinesh Acharya, Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No. 33 Committee, repeatedly threatened journalist Suman Dhungana, a member of the FNJ Kaski Branch, through messages over a news report concerning Seti Riverside Resort, according to the branch.

The Federation considers such behavior against journalists—rather than seeking legal remedies or following established procedures to address dissatisfaction with news reports—to be highly condemnable and a violation of press freedom.

The FNJ calls on the concerned authorities to investigate these incidents, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure an environment in which journalists can exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights freely and fearlessly.

Ram Prasad Dahal

General Secretary