Translated from Media Kurakani, 13 January

After the arrest of Lachhiram Ghartel, one of the accused in journalist Dekendra Thapa’s murder in 2004, there have been demands for free and fair investigation into the murders and disappearances of journalists during the conflict. While Thapa’s case has gained publicity, more than 30 murder cases of journalists are still in limbo.  Following the arrest of its cadre in Dekendra’s case, UCPN (Maoist) has decided to file new cases in contestation.

According to the Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ), 35 journalists have been killed since the conflict began in 1996, while three are still missing. FNJ is demanding a high level probe committee to investigate each and every case. While it might still take some time to see the government’s reaction to the demands, for now here are the names of the journalists who were killed and disappeared and the party involved in it.

S.no Name Organisation Date Party involved
1. Dev Kumar Acharya Janadesh Weekly 23 July 2001 State
2. Kanchan Priyadarshi Former Secretary of FNJ, Sindhupalchowk chapter 29 April 2002 State
3. Krishna Sen Janadesh Weekly 27 May 2002 State
4. Kamal A.C. Janadisha Weekly 29 June 2002 State
5. Rajkumar K.C. Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) 24 October 2002 State
6. Nawaraj Sharma ‘Basanta’ Kadam Weekly 2 May 2002 Maoist
7. Ambika Timalsina Janadesh and Mahima Weekly 11 December 2002 Maoist
8. Kumar Ghimire Janaprabhat Weekly 2 November 2002 State
9. Gyanendra Khadka RSS 6 August 2003 Maoist
10. Bindod Sajana Chowdhary Janadesh Weekly 30 September 2002 State
11. Nagendra Pokhrel Janadesh Weekly 22 December 2003 State
12. Gopal Giri Sapatahik Manch 15 January 2004 Maoist
13. Padamraj Devkota Karnali Sandesh, Murichaula 7 February 2004 State
14. Dekendra Thapa Radio Nepal 11 August 2004 Maoist
15. Badri Khadka Janadesh Weekly 29 August 2004 State
16. Dhanbahadur Rokka Magar Radio Nepal 30 January 2003 Maoist
17. Khagendra Shrestha Dharan Today 1 April 2005 Maoist
18. Maheshwor Pahadi Rastriya Swabhiman Weekly 4 October 2005 State
19. Birendra Shah Avenues TV, Nepal FM, Drishti Weekly 5 October 2007 Maoist
20. Pushkar Bahadur Shrestha New Highway, New Season Weekly 2 January 2008 GTMM-J
21. Anand Kumar Thapa Janadesh Weekly August 2004 State
22. Bhim Bahadur Gharti Correspondent, Maoist Radio 2003 State
23. Subhash Mainali Correspondent, Maoist Radio 2004 State
24. Mohan Khanal Janabidroha Weekly 2005 State
25. Ishwar Dhungana Janabidroha Weekly 2005 State
26. Chin Bahadur Buda Janadesh Weekly 28 February 2006 State
27. Jagatprasad Joshi (JP Pandit) Janadesh Daily 28 November 2008 Maoist
28. Uma Singh Janakpur Today, Radio Today FM 11 January 2009 Unknown
29. Jamim Shah Chairman, Channel Nepal 7 February 2010 Unknown
30. Arun Sahaniya Media entrepreneur 1 March 2010 Unknown
31. Deviprasad Dhital(Hemraj) Media entrepreneur 22 July 2010 Unknown
32. Babur Kharel Media entrepreneur 26 July 2011 Unknown
33. Yadav Poudel Mechi Times, Rajdhani, Avenues 3 April 2012 Unknown

34. Santosh Kumar Gupta Media entrepreneur (Bindaas FM) 6 July 2012 Unkown

35. Chandan Nepali Radio Skype, Gulmi 12 September, 2012 Unkown

Journalists who forcefullydisappeared:

1. Milan Nepali Janadesh Weekly, Lalitpur 9 June 1999 State

2. Prakash Singh Thakuri Rajdhani Daily, Kanchanpur 5 July 2007 Maoist

3. Chitranarayan Shrestha Sindhuli

Note: Names of some  journalists, who were killed during the same period aren't mentioned here since their details have not yet been confirmed.

Source: FNJ

Read the full article in Nepali here.