On the first day of its visit, the team led by Jyoti Sanghera, the representative of UNHCHR-N, met with Republica correspondent Khilanath Dhakal, who was brutally thrashed by the YF cadres early June. [break]
The YF cadres, apparently at the behest of absconding YF leader Parshuram Basnet, had beaten up Dhakal for writing a news story about the attack they carried out on murder-accused Abhishek Giri inside the premises of Morang District Court.
During her meeting with Dhakal, Sanghera expressed concerns over growing cases of impunity under the protection of political leaders. “We are concerned as the prime accused (in the attack) is still not brought to book even after such a long time,” Dhakal quoted Sanghera as saying. “We will take up this issue with top-level authorities.”
Dhakal apprised Sanghera of the insecurity felt by him due to a threat issued recently by Youth Association Nepal (YAN) chairman Mahesh Basnet. Addressing a mass gathering organized to exert pressure on the administration to drop charges against Parshuram, Mahesh had threatened to settle scores with all journalists who have written news stories against him and his association.
Sanghera also expressed worries over Basnet´s threat to shut down Nagarik daily and throw its Editor-in-chief Narayan Wagle behind bars.
The team also met with Annapurna Post correspondent Kishor Budhathoki on Wednesday. Budhathoki, who was attacked by two youths in Sankhuwasabha, is undergoing treatment in Biratnagar.
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