Boss of western Nepal FM station shot dead

Source : BBC Monitoring 23.07.2010

An unidentified group has shot dead Hemraj Dhital, chairman of Radio Tulsipur FM 100.2 MHz, in Dang [western Nepal] Thursday evening [22 July]. A group of about four or five persons aged between 20 to 25 opened fire at Dhital at Jaspur, some 8 km south of Tulsipur, at about 7.45 p.m. today, according to Area Police Office, Tulsipur. [passage omitted]

Dahal was immediately taken to Rapti Zonal Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.

Police have recovered a used bullet from the incident site. The nature of the incident shows the murder was pre-planned, said Baral.

Dhital is also member of Nepali Congress. He was returning to Tulsipur after an errand in connection with the upcoming general convention of the party when the incident took place.

Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN) has condemned the murder and urged the government to investigate on the case immediately and take action against the guilty.

Issuing a press statement after the incident, BAN president Bishnu Hari Dhakal criticized the government for not being serious towards the security of journalists and media workers.

Media entrepreneurs Arun Singhaniya and Jamim Shah were shot dead in Janakpur and Kathmandu respectively a few months ago.

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