Not only pro-democracy activists, journalists and rights activists and lawyers have also become the victim of police atrocities in recent days in course of agitation of the seven political parties.

Kumar Shrestha, a photojournalist affiliated with Nepalnews.com also became the victim of police atrocity last Tuesday.

Shrestha, who was covering the pro-democracy movement in Gongabu area of the capital, received rubber bullet injuries fired by the security personnel.

Over 90 protestors were also injured during the incident.

A rubber bullet hit him when he was taking picture of the demonstration in Gongabu area. Shrestha, who had saved a policeman from further injury on Monday, become the victim of police firing a day later.

“I was taking photographs of protestors trying to set ablaze the residence of Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Rupsagar Moktan, suddenly I was hit by a bullet and became unconscious,” said Kumar.

Then Kumar was rushed to the TU Teaching Hospital for treatment. Doctors are yet to take out some parts of bullets from upper arm/shoulder of Shrestha. Doctors have recommended that the bullet be taken out only after the wound is healed.

Over 140 journalists were arrested and dozens injured when police attacked media personnel while they were covering the latest round of anti-government protests across the country over last week.

Police thrashed four journalists affiliated to Kantipur Publications, including assistant editor of Kantipur dainik, Balram Baniya, at Chuchepati in Kathmandu last week. They were there to cover how people were defying the curfew orders.

“Our job is to inform people on what is happening in the country. We are not political activists. So, attacks upon journalists is unnecessary,” added Kumar.

Widely traveled Shrestha, who has visited Maoist strongholds in the course of his duty, said he would continue his profession despite risks associated with it.

“We have been targeted by both the sides which is very unfortunate,” he added.

“Many protestors had been shot by the security forces before I received bullet injury. There was continuous firing in the demonstration,” he recalled.

Protestors vandalized nearly half dozen vehicles of different media during the protest programmes. Neither the government nor the protestors seemed bothered about the rights of the journalists.

Talking to Nepalnews, President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), an umbrella organisation of the working journalists across the country, Bishnu Nisthuri, alleged that the government was treating independent press in the country as an enemy. “Recent incidents are testimony to the government’s behavior,” he added.

National and international media watchdogs have condemned the government’s atrocities against media and have raised voices to respect press freedom.

Meanwhile, talking to Nepalnews, Minister of state for Information and Communications and the government’s spokesperson Shrish Shumser Rana refuted claims that journalists were targeted.

He said that he did not have information about such attacks and that the government had no policy to attack journalists, adding, “Some journalists are becoming the part of the agitation which is against the professional ethics of journalism.” nepalnews.com pb Apr 14 06