Nepal: Provincial newspaper editor forced to flee by death threats

Ambika Bhandari, the editor of Samyentra Weekly, a newspaper based in Biratchowk (in the southeastern district of Morang), was forced to flee the district on 12 June after being threatened by Bikram Bhujel, the owner of a restaurant called “Don’t cross me.” In the issue that appeared on 12 June, Bhandari published an article saying the restaurant was a hangout for prostitutes. Bhujel immediately went to his home, accompanied by men armed with knives, and threatened to kill Bhandari, close down his newspaper and set fire to his car. Morang is located in the Terai region.