Journo brutally beaten up in Rukum

DANG, Dec 9: Unidentified individuals beat up Tika Bista, a journalist in Rukum, on Monday and threw her in a forest. She was found in an unconscious state in the same forest on Tuesday evening, the District Police Office said. [break]



Bista, who works for the Rajdhani daily, and also contributes political write-ups to local newspapers, had been receiving phone threats in connection with her reports. Last week, she issued a press statement saying that some Maoist activists had been threatening to kill her over a news story.



Bista had written a commentary on local Jantidhara weekly about YCL´s slogan during their protest against Minister Shankar Pokahrel´s visit.



Though she has been referred to Kathmandu for further treatment, she is currently receiving treatment in Nepalgunj owing to lack of conveyance for reaching Kathmandu. She was airlifted to Nepalgunj and later to Kathmandu on Wednesday.



Police found Bista unconscious with a severe head injury and wounds inflicted by a razor blade. She had been thrown off the side of a cliff. Police also recovered Bista´s smashed laptop, radio and a mobile phone.






Protesting the incident, the Press Chautari organized rallies in all five districts of Rapti zone on Wednesday. Journalists have demanded an investigation, and action against the culprits.



Bista is a central delegate of Rukum chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and former vice-chair of Press Chautari Rukum.



Meanwhile, FNJ Central Committee has released an update stating that their attempts to airlift her to Kathmandu for further treatment failed on Tuesday despite repeated requests to the government.