Doctor Arrested for Threatening Journalist in Sarlahi

Sarlahi. Police have arrested a doctor on the charge of threatening a journalist. The arrested individual has been identified as Dr. Guneshwar Jha, the operator of Stuti Saumya Health Care located in Malangwa Municipality-10. According to the District Police Office Sarlahi, Jha was arrested on charges of repeatedly threatening Bakhtiyar Ali, a journalist working for Avenews Television, over a news story he wrote.

Journalist Ali had prepared a news report regarding an incident on Falgun 5, where a 3-month-old infant, Abhi Baitha, a resident of Bishnu Rural Municipality-6, died during treatment at Stuti Saumya Health Care. After the news was made public, Dr. Jha allegedly pressured him to remove the story and used phone calls and social media to abuse and threaten him.

Following the increased threats and pressure, journalist Ali informed the Federation of Nepali Journalists. Subsequently, the Sarlahi branch and Madhesh Province committee of the Federation of Nepali Journalists issued a joint statement, drawing attention to the incident and demanding strict action against the culprit. 

The Federation stated that if there is dissatisfaction with any news, legal procedures can be followed, but threatening and pressuring journalists goes against press freedom. Police stated that further investigation into the incident is underway.