KATHMANDU: Police raided the Nakkhu residence of Jana Aastha weekly editor and publisher Kishor Shrestha late Wednesday night, hours after his arrest.
According to family sources, police seized laptops, computers and mobile phones from the residence during the raid. Shrestha, who was arrested near his residence in Kusunti, was taken to the Kathmandu District Police Range before police arrived at his home and confiscated the electronic devices.
Police are also preparing to visit the Jana Aastha office in Thado Dhunga, Lalitpur. Journalists have gathered at the media house to protest the reported move, arguing that police cannot unlawfully raid a media organisation.
Journalists from various media outlets have reached the office, calling for the protection of press freedom and professional rights.
Shrestha, a former chairperson of the Press Council Nepal, was arrested after police obtained court permission in connection with a case involving alleged violation of personal privacy, according to police.
The overnight raid on Shrestha’s residence and the reported preparations to search the media house have drawn criticism from various journalists’ organisations.
The journalism sector has begun protesting following Shrestha’s arrest. Several media-related organisations have strongly objected, claiming that he was detained over the publication of news.
Shrestha was arrested from his residence in Nakkhu, Lalitpur, on Wednesday evening and is currently being held at the Kathmandu District Police Range. Following news of his arrest, Federation of Nepali Journalists President Nirmala Sharma, Press Chautari Nepal President Ganesh Pandey and other journalists and media professionals reached the Kathmandu police office in Teku.
Journalists have argued that if authorities have objections to published content, the matter should be addressed through the Press Council Nepal or established legal procedures rather than directly detaining an editor.
They have described the arrest and subsequent raids as a direct interference in press freedom and warned that such actions could create an atmosphere of fear and pressure within the media sector. The journalists’ organisations have urged the government and security agencies to respect press freedom and follow due legal procedures.
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