Journalists barred from PM-attended function

DHANKUTA, JAN 29: Police in Dhankuta barred media persons from covering a function attended by the prime minister for wearing black bands on their arms as a protest against a government´s recent increasing of the types of classified information to 140.



Central member of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Siddharaj Rai and former vice-president Sanjay Santoshi Rai among other journalists were barred from covering the ´Dhankuta Mahotsav´, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai Sunday afternoon. [break]



“As we had planned a symbolic protest by wearing black arm bands, security personnel barred us from entering the venue of ´Dhankuta Mahotsav´ for three hours,” said Mohan Bantawa, FNJ Dhankuta chapter president.



Members of the organizing committee of the ´Dhankuta Mahotsav´ had escorted journalists out of the venue. After they were escorted out of the venue, police barred them from entering.



Chief District Officer Khadga Bahadur Chapagain among other senior police officers were present at the time when journalists were barred from the venue.



According to the journalists, they staged a demonstraion later protesting the barring.



FNJ Dhankuta chapter, Press Chautari and human rights organizations in the district have condemned local officials for the move.

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