RatoPati Journalist Attacked by CPN-UML Cadres While Covering Elections in Jhapa

Jhapa. RatoPati journalist Arjun Acharya, who was in Jhapa for election reporting, was attacked by cadres of the CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist).

The attack on Acharya occurred on Thursday afternoon at Jeevan Chowk in Kamal Rural Municipality, Jhapa, by members of UML's Volunteer Force, according to another RatoPati journalist, Rohit Dahal. The members of the Volunteer Force, traveling in a Scorpio vehicle with license plate number 2561, carried out the assault on Acharya.

The incident took place while following the entourage of CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli's door-to-door campaign and secretariat team. During that time, local women made symbolic protests, shouting slogans related to the 'Bell' (the election symbol of the Rastriya Swatantra Party). Following this, CPN-UML cadres displayed obscene language and behavior towards these women. Journalist Acharya was attacked while attempting to photograph and video this scene.

The attackers snatched Acharya's mobile phone and broke his eyeglasses. Acharya sustained injuries to his eye, cheek, and back from the attack. Other journalists rescued him and took him to a safe location. Dahal stated that even after the attack, the CPN-UML cadres threatened the journalist team, saying they would 'show them what's what' (a threat of future harm).

RatoPati's team covering the elections in Koshi Province includes Arjun Panta, Amrit Chimariya, Rohit Dahal, Manoj Khadka, and Arjun Acharya.