Police on Saturday has intervened in the peaceful demonstration being organized by the Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ) in Kathmandu and took into custody four journalists.

Central committee member of FNJ, Surya Thapa, journalists Dipak Dahal, Fanindra Dahal and Tikaram Yatri were arrested while they were taking part in a peaceful demonstration that initiated from Media Village at Sinamangal. Nearly a dozen journalists and professionals including general secretary of FNJ, Mahendra Bista, former president of Nepal Engineers Association Yuvaraj Sharma and general secretary of the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) Rajendra Aryal were injured in the baton-charging by police. FNJ had organized the rally in protest of use of excessive force by security personnel in peaceful demonstrations in various parts of the country over the past week.

All four journalists were freed after a couple of hours this afternoon.

In a separate incident, police took into custody 18 journalists, artists and professionals as they were taking part in the ‘Face to Face programme at the street’ organized by the Reporters’ Club of Nepal at Putalisadak on Saturday morning. Chairman of the Club, Rishi Dhamala, journalists Purushottam Dhakal, Navaraj Chalise, artist Manoj Gajurel, among others, were detained.

FNJ, CEHURDES and other media groups have condemned the arrest and attack against journalists by the royal regime and have called upon the government to respect people’s right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. nepalnews.com by Apr 15 06