Date: June 1, 2026 

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) expresses its serious concern over the incident in which the communication equipment of Mahottari-based journalist Narendra Mahato was seized and he was subjected to mistreatment.

According to the FNJ Mahottari Chapter, journalist Mahato was mistreated and his reporting equipment was confiscated by a group of individuals on May 31 (Jeth 17) while he was covering a protest demonstration in Gaushala, Mahottari.

The Federation strongly condemns this unruly and deplorable act committed against a journalist who was independently collecting news. Assaulting and mistreating journalists on duty, and seizing their communication tools, is a direct assault on press freedom and the citizens' right to information.

The FNJ strongly demands that the concerned authorities immediately identify the individuals involved in the incident, bring them to legal justice, ensure the return of the seized communication equipment, and pay special attention to the security of journalists.

Ram Prasad Dahal

General Secretary