Indian SSB threaten and obstruct Nepali journalists in Nepal-India border

FREEDOM FORUM

KATMANDU, JAN. 17

Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel misbehaved with journalists who arrived Khurdalautan, Rupandehi to cover the news of border inspection by Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on January 12 Tuesday, said Freedom Forum, a media organisation monitoring press freedom situation in Nepal.
In a statement, the Forum said the Indian administration had deployed a large number of SSB personnel at no man’s land between India and Nepal immediately after learning that the team led by Maoist secretary general Ram Bahadur Thapa was reaching there to inspect the embankment. “SSB personnel even didn't leave journalists during news reporting.”

Condemning the incident, the Forum has asked the government to take up the issue through diplomatic channel and ensure that such incident would not be repeated in the coming days.
In yet another incident, Abadhesh Kumar Jha, a journalist based in Inaruwa, the district headquarters of Sunsari, received a death threat on Friday night.
Jha said four motorcyclists in masque threatened to blow him up for his public dissemination of information. Police were deployed for Jha's security immediately after the Federation of Nepali Journalists informed them about the threat.