KATHMANDU: The Chinese contractors have used hoodlums to assault the journalists who had gone to collect the news about the displacement of the locals by Upper Chaku A Hydropower Project, an under-construction hydropower project in Sindhupalchowk.

After hearing that the contractor sponsored goons have not only suppressed the voice of the displaced but have also ill-treated and assaulted the locals displaced by the project under-construction, many journalists from major news media had reached to the site to collect the news.

According to Nepal Journalist Federation, Chitra Mijar – Gorkhapatra, Anish Tiwari -Kantipur Daily and Niroj Chaulagain AP1 television had been assaulted by the contractor-tamed goons on October 13.

In addition to attacking the journalists, the hooligans had also attempted to smash and destroy the vehicles used by the journalists.

Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and Nepal Press Union (NPU) have lambasted the incident of the assault of the journalists and have demanded that the guilty be booked under law at the earliest.

“The incident of assault on the journalists by some hoodlums has come under our notice,” the press release issued by General Secretary of FNJ Ramesh Bisht reads, “The attack on the journalists who were recording the grievances of the displaced locals is heinous crime and has to be sued strictly as per the laws so that the journalists involved in news reporting can disseminate the free, fair and impartial news.”

Likewise, the NPU Press Release issued by its General Secretary Ajaya Babu Siwakoti has also demanded the guilty to be treated strictly for their criminal endeavors so that the journalists involved in disseminating news can work in a fearless environment.