Nepal journalists demand justice for slain colleague | WPN World People News

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) says it is deeply concerned and shocked by the brutal murder of journalist Yadav Poudel in Birtamod, Jhapa, eastern Nepal, on Wednesday.

FNJ said it strongly condemns the murder and demands immediate action against the culprits.

Poudel, 38, was an executive editor of the "Mechi Times" regional daily newspaper and covered eastern Nepal for the Kathmandu-based Avenues Television station and the "Rajdhani" national daily.

He was found murdered in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Preliminary investigations suggest that he succumbed to multiple injuries caused by sharp weapons at around 12:30 am.

He is survived by his wife Sonam, his son Kshitiz, daughter Bitisha, four sisters, and his mother.

An emergency meeting of the central committee of FNJ formed a seven-member fact finding mission team to study the incident. The team will travel to eastern Nepal and talk to state bodies to ensure a timely investigation is held and the culprits are put behind bars, an FNJ statement said.

"This incident points to the continual physical insecurity for journalists," FNJ President Shiva Gaunle said Wednesday. "Despite commitments from leaders of political parties and the Home Minister during the International Media Mission in February, the murder shows that the state is not serious about its commitments."

Source:Southeast Asia News.Net