Lokendra Khanal was attacked by a dozen assailants with knives while on his way to a religious ceremony at Magma of Bafiyakot in Rukum on the evening of November 9. Khanal, also the secretary of district chapter of NPU, sustained injuries to his head and needed a few stitches during treatment.
Police has made no arrest in connection to the case.
Ramesh Bista, the FNJ General Secretary, said: “The attack shows that weak situation of journalist safety in the country; and the FNJ strongly condemns the incident to weaken and instill fear on journalists.”
Ajaya Babu Shiwakoti, the NPU General Secretary, said: “The incident is an example of state-sponsored attack. The NPU demands immediate arrest of the perpetrators to punish them.”
The IFJ said: “The IFJ strongly condemns the attack on journalist Lokendra Khanal in Rukum, Nepal during the festival of Tihar. Such attacks, especially by the cadres of the ruling party, weakens shows the lack of government commitment to press freedom and journalist safety. The police inaction in the case of attack on journalist is unacceptable. The IFJ urges Nepal government to immediately mobile security force to arrest the perpetrators and punish them.”