Nepal, Chitwan.- Those who attacked journalist Shishir Simkhada have been absconding for 4 days. Although the police said that the search operation is going on, they have not been arrested. District Police Office Chitwan’s DSP and Spokesperson Narahari Adhikari said that the search for those who attacked journalist Simkhada is ongoing.

Journalist Simkhada was assaulted last Wednesday morning. A group of four people, including Deepak Lamichhane, attacked journalist Simkhada while he was going to office of his daily work, on the way in Kholesimal market in Kalika municipality they attacked. Lamichhane is the personal secretary (PA) of the outgoing mayor of Kalika Municipality, Khumnarayan Shrestha. He is also the Vice Chairman of CPN Kalika City Committee.

Last Tuesday 16 Aug, news he was published in media under the title of ‘Complaint against the outgoing mayor Shrestha and PA Lamichhane of Kalika municipality for corruption of more than 250 million rupees’.

Meanwhile, Journalist Simkhada has filed a criminal caseat the District Police Office Chitwan on Wednesday in the presence of Nepal Journalists Federation Chitwan and other journalists affiliated organizationsagainst the four people; Lamichhane, his brother DilipLamichhane and nephews Amir Sapkota and Nikesh Nepal involved in the incident. They had hit the Journalist Simkhada with a motorcycle helmet. They had also threatened to kill the Journalist Simkhada.

Journalist associations have condemned the attack on Chitwan journalist Shishir Simkhada. A member of the Nepal Journalist Federation Chitwan, a Chitwan reporter of Radio Nepal (Government Radio) and the editor-in-chief of Kalika Dainik Online, Simkhada was attacked last Wednesday morning.

Narayan Adhikari, President of Nepal Journalist Federation Chitwan, Krishna Acharya, Vice President of Press Chautari Chitwan, Anil Dhakal, President of Press Union Chitwan, and Kishor Chandra Sapkota, Treasurer of Press Center Chitwan published a joint statement on Wednesday condemning the incident.

In the statement, it has been mentioned that in case of dissatisfaction with the news, it is reprehensible that journalists should be assaulted despite the fact that there is a state agency for investigation and the right to apply to the relevant agency. A strong demand has also been made for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the culprits.

Similarly, Govinda Prasad Choulagai, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists and Krishna Saru Magar, Secretary General of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Bagmati Province Committee have also published separate statements condemning the incident. Similarly, General Secretary of Nepal Central Committee Press Chautari Nepal Hiraman Lama, General Secretary of Bagmati Province Committee Prakash Dahal have also published a statement and expressed serious objection to the incident.

Opposing the attack, Homanath Sapkota, President of East Chitwan Journalists’ Association, Rajandil Gurung, President of Rapti Journalists’ Forum, Hemraj Rimal, Secretary of West Chitwan Journalists’ Forum, and more than a fiften journalist-affiliated associations have demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and legal action with the relevant authorities.