Journalists burned to death, injured, media houses attacked amid pro-monarchy protest in Nepal
MEDIA ACTION NEPAL | March 29 : Following the protest by pro-monarchist on the afternoon of March 28, 2025, a building known as Marble House was set on fire after being targeted by the demonstrators, who had clashed with police. Suresh Rajak was covering the event and was on the roof of the building, filming for Avenues Television, when the building was set ablaze. His body was found inside the building, severely burnt and beyond recognition, raising serious concerns over the violence inflicted during the protest.
Kedar Koirala, the news chief at Avenues Television, confirmed the death of Suresh Rajak, expressing that this is a very tragic incident. “We are heartbroken by his death, and this is not merely an attack on our colleague but an assault on press freedom itself,” Koirala stated to Media Action Nepal.
In another incident, Rajesh Gurung, a photojournalist with The Himalayan Times, was injured by rubber bullets during the protest. He sustained injuries to his thigh and foot while covering the demonstrations in the Tinkune area of Kathmandu. Gurung was admitted to Kantipur Hospital, where he was prescribed six types of antibiotics for his treatment.
Another journalist of Onlinekhabar, Dinesh Gautam, was injured during a pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune today. He was taking photos of protesters snatching a gun used by security forces to fire tear gas when he was mobbed by them. According to Gautam, he was pushed and attempted to steal his mobile.
Following that, they pushed Gautam down. A team of security personnel arrived shortly after that and fired tear gas. Gautam escaped. While fleeing to Koteshwor, he was pursued by rioters. At the time, the protesters dubbed him a police CID. “I clicked the picture of rioters snatching a police gun. However, they attacked and pursued me, mistaking me for a security CID officer. They broke my leg. “It is plastered, and I have to walk with crutches,” he told Media Action Nepal. Gautam, who was injured during the incident, was taken to Everest Hospital. Doctors stated that his leg was broken during the incident.
Moreover, they also attacked media organizations, setting fire to the Annapurna Post office and pelting stones at the Kantipur Television building. Initially, demonstrators hurled stones at media offices before escalating to arson. It has been reported that the fire at Annapurna Post was later extinguished by office staff. The Annapurna Post posted a video on Facebook showing them setting fire after pelting stones. Protesters also vandalized Kantipur Television and several nearby buildings. Stones were thrown at the office building and other nearby structures.
Media Action Nepal condemns violence, demands swift action against perpetrators
Media Action Nepal has been closely monitoring the recent incidents of violations against journalists and independent media, and we are deeply concerned about the tragic death of a journalist, as well as the injuries and attacks on journalists and media houses.
These senseless attacks on journalists not only underscore the growing violence but also reflect an alarming disregard for press freedom and the safety of journalists in Nepal. In the name of political protests, these acts are nothing less than targeted assaults on the very foundation of democracy and the freedom of the press.
Laxman Datt Pant, Founder and Executive Director of Media Action Nepal, stated, “We call on the government, protesters, and media houses to take a firm stand for the safety of journalists.” Media Action Nepal strongly urges the government, protestors, and media outlets to take immediate and responsible actions:
- The government must ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts face swift and severe consequences.
- Protestors must understand that violence against journalists is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
- Media houses must take every necessary measure to protect their reporters and ensure their safety during such events.
“The tragic loss of Suresh Rajak’s life is a stark reminder of the risks journalists face in their line of work,” Pant added.
We call on the government, protesters, and media houses to take a firm stand for the safety of journalists.