Date: September 16, 2026

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has drawn its attention to the incident in which journalist Sundarkumar Thakali was threatened with death via WhatsApp by an individual named “Chetan Gurung.”

According to the FNJ Gandaki Province Committee, former President of the FNJ Mustang Chapter, Thakali, was also subjected to verbal abuse using obscene and derogatory language over a news report published on Bhadra 28 under the headline, “Container Drivers Protest Outside Mustang Customs, Alleged Damage to Containers Taken Across the Border.”

Threatening, intimidating and insulting a journalist instead of seeking a resolution through the prevailing legal process if one is dissatisfied with a news report is highly reprehensible and constitutes an attack on press freedom.

The FNJ calls on the concerned authorities to investigate the incident and take legal action against those responsible.

Ram Prasad Dahal
General Secretary