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🇳🇵 Nepal /Crime & Justice

Some welcome Kishor Shrestha’s arrest, others question it

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Journalist Kishor Shrestha was arrested for allegedly violating a woman's right to privacy, sparking a debate on press freedom versus accountability.
  • While some media groups criticize the arrest as an attack on free press, others, particularly women's advocates, welcome it, citing past alleged abuses of power.
  • Critics argue the case should be handled by the Nepal Press Council, while supporters believe Shrestha's actions, including publishing sensitive stories, warrant police intervention.

The arrest of journalist Kishor Shrestha has ignited a sharp division within Nepal, pitting press freedom advocates against those who allege he has used his position to perpetrate harm. Shrestha was detained by a joint police team on allegations of violating an individual's right to privacy, following a complaint filed by a woman.

For years, he has used his pen and influence to meddle in the lives of others, yet no one demanded that he be held accountable. Now, when a woman has finally found the courage to speak out against the alleged wrongdoing she suffered, the state has listened to her, taken her complaint seriously and offered her support.

— Bhawana RautA prominent Gen Z leader, explaining her support for Shrestha's arrest on Facebook.

Many in the media fraternity and press freedom organizations have condemned the arrest, viewing it as an infringement on the free press and suggesting the Nepal Press Council, not the police, should handle such matters. They argue that such actions could stifle journalistic inquiry and create a chilling effect on reporting.

However, a significant segment, including prominent women's rights advocates, has welcomed Shrestha's apprehension. They contend that journalistic privilege should not shield individuals from legal accountability for alleged wrongdoing. Bhawana Raut, a Gen Z leader, stated on Facebook that Shrestha had long "used his pen and influence to meddle in the lives of others" and that the state has finally listened to a woman who "found the courage to speak out."

The right to privacy is a fundamental right. Those who turn other people’s private lives into public spectacles and make a mockery of their privacy should be held accountable. They should spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

— Srijana PokhrelA writer, commenting on the importance of privacy and accountability for journalists.

This debate is further fueled by Shrestha's publication, Jana Aastha Weekly, which recently published a story and video allegedly showing a lawmaker kissing a woman. Those supporting the arrest point to a pattern of similar stories published by the weekly, which they interpret as a reflection of Shrestha's alleged disregard for women's privacy. Some recall past incidents, like the publication of an actor's nude photographs in Jana Aastha 23 years ago, which was followed by her suicide, highlighting a long-standing concern about the paper's methods.

When journalism becomes a tool for blackmail, coercion and personal deals, it is no longer journalism.

— Anjali SubediA journalist, criticizing the alleged misuse of journalism for personal gain.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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