The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in expressing serious concerns over police complicity in an assault on journalist Lila Nath Ghimire on August 15.

Ghimire, a journalist with Fast Times daily based in Dharan, in eastern Nepal, was attacked by a gang of youths while reporting on an incident at a restaurant involving Senior Superintendent of Police Mingmar Lama.

The gang, reportedly led by an individual named Thaman Gurung and allegedly working with the approval of the superintendent, attacked Ghimire with a glass, causing serious injury to his right eye.

Ghimire was assaulted after being denied entry to the restaurant, while investigating reports that Lama was intoxicated and engaged in “inappropriate behaviour” at the restaurant.

Lama quickly left the restaurant when he learnt of the presence of reporters, according to Dharan Municipal Youth Force coordinator Devhang Rai, who witnessed the incident.

“The IFJ demands that Ghimire’s attackers are prosecuted without delay, and that a full investigation into their alleged connections with the police superintendent be conducted,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

Ghimire is undergoing treatment for his injuries in the Koirala Institute of Health and Sciences in Dharan.

Lama has denied any involvement in the attack, and said investigations into the assault were under way.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries

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