Media Action Nepal on Friday expressed serious concern over the arrest of journalists and police attempts to locate several other reporters in a series of incidents inside newsrooms across Kathmandu, saying the developments raise serious concerns about press freedom, journalists' safety, protection of sources and the freedom to report on matters of public interest.

Source: Media Action Nepal

According to the group, Bishwamani Subedi of Nepal Press and Shobhraj Baral of Motivate News were arrested by police on Friday. Plainclothes police personnel also visited the offices of Naya Patrika daily seeking journalist Navaraj Mainali, and of Diyo Post online seeking its editor Sudip Bishwakarma, it said.

Nepal Press reported that three individuals in plain clothes entered its newsroom while Subedi, who covers security and crime, was working. They asked him to accompany them for a discussion concerning a news report, but did not present an arrest warrant, according to journalist Rajaram Neupane, who was present in the newsroom. The individuals reportedly identified themselves as personnel from the Crime Investigation Division and cited an order from the Inspector General of Police.

Source: Nepal Press reporting, cited by Media Action Nepal

Subedi reportedly offered to accompany them on his own motorcycle but was taken away in a police vehicle. Nepal Press said it was unable to contact him by phone and had received no official explanation from the police regarding his detention. Police sources cited by Nepal Press said the Crime Investigation Division detained Subedi at the request of the Cyber Bureau.

In a separate incident, Shobhraj Baral of Motivate News was reportedly taken away by plainclothes police personnel for questioning, Media Action Nepal said. Diyo Post editor Rita Budhathoki also reported receiving calls from unidentified numbers seeking the location of the outlet's office, alongside threats directed at editor Sudip Bishwakarma, according to the group.

Media Action Nepal chairperson Umesh Pokharel said incidents involving arrests, attempts to locate journalists and the absence of clear explanations for police action risk creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within newsrooms. The group stressed that journalists must not be subjected to arbitrary arrest, intimidation or harassment for carrying out their professional responsibilities, and noted that Press Council Nepal is the body mandated to handle grievances over published content.