Date: May 25, 2026 

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has expressed serious concern over the incident in Ranisain, where individuals involved vandalized and looted the communication equipment of journalists on reporting assignments, and even issued physical assault threats.

According to the FNJ Bajura Branch, on May 17 (Jestha 3), journalist Umesh Bahadur Shahi, who had reached the site to cover the incident, had his drone camera seized and vandalized. Furthermore, journalists Janak Bohara, Anil Shahi, and Jeet Jung Katel were kept out of contact for three days and were forced to delete their recorded video footage. The branch stated that the journalists, who were out of contact from May 17 to 19 (Jestha 3 to 5), finally established contact with the branch office on May 20 (Jestha 6).

The branch further reported that during this period, journalists Prakash Bahadur Singh, along with Shahi and Katel, were subjected to abuse on social media and received death threats.

The Federation strongly condemns this act, which constitutes both a direct interference with press freedom and a societal crime. The FNJ urgently demands that the concerned authorities investigate the incident and immediately take legal action against the perpetrators.

Ram Prasad Dahal

General Secretary