Date: August 29, 2026

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has drawn serious attention to the incident in which security personnel prevented journalists, including Radheshyam Khatiwada and Sant Kumar Chaudhary, from gathering news about the management of unidentified bodies that were swept away by the Bhotekoshi flood and later found in the Narayani River in Chitwan.

The FNJ Chitwan Chapter stated that journalists were obstructed while gathering news about a structure being constructed for the management of bodies brought downstream by the flood on Bhadra 10. According to the chapter, journalist Khatiwada’s mobile phone was taken into control, and the photos and videos stored on the phone were also deleted.

Obstructing journalists from carrying out their professional duty of informing citizens about matters of public concern is objectionable and constitutes an act against press freedom. The FNJ condemns this incident.

The FNJ calls on the concerned authorities to ensure that such conduct is not repeated in the future and to create an environment in which journalists can carry out their professional duties freely and without obstruction.

Ram Prasad Dahal
General Secretary