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Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has condemned the physical attack on Annapurna Media Network by pro-monarchy protesters.

Home Minister Lekhak, accompanied by Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, Inspector General of Nepal Police Deepak Thapa, and Inspector General of Armed Police Raju Aryal, inspected the office of Annapurna Post in Tinkune on Saturday morning.

Pro-monarchy supporters vandalized the office of Annapurna Media Network during a protest in Tinkune on Friday.

The protesters had also attempted to set fire the office of Annapurna Media Network.

After taking stock of the incident, Home Minister Lekhak said that the attack on the media house was condemnable and that anyone involved in the incident would be brought to justice.

Inspector General of Nepal Police Thapa said the physical attack on Annapurna Media Network was condemnable.

Annapurna Media Network General Manager Manoj Basnet informed the team, including Home Minister Lekhak, about the incident.

The Kathmandu District Administration Office has lifted a curfew in the Tinkune-Baneshwor area.

The order initially imposed from 4:25 pm to 10 pm was later extended to 7 am until Saturday following the clash and vandalism that ensued as a result of the protest and demonstration held by pro-monarchists.

The order was imposed as per Section (6) a of the Local Administration Act, 2028 BS, said Kathmandu Chief District Officer Rishiram Tiwari.

The curfew order was issued in the late afternoon to be effective from Old Baneshwor to Tinkune area, from Gaushala to the airport, Gairigaun, Tinkune to Koteshwor, from Koteshwor to Jadibuti Bridge, from Koteshwor to Balkumari Bridge, from Baneshwor Chowk to Shankhamul Bridge, from Gaushala Chowk to Old Baneshwor to Naya Baneshwor Chowk.

Two persons died and 45 others were injured in clashes between pro-monarchy protesters and security personnel on Friday.

Adrian Pokharel, a leader of the US Democratic Party, has strongly condemned the recent vandalism and arson attempt at Annapurna Media Network.

Expressing concern over the violent attack, Pokharel called on the international community to take the incident seriously.

He emphasized that such acts of terrorism against the press must not be ignored.

Pokharel, who previously ran as a candidate for Virginia’s 10th congressional district, stressed the importance of safeguarding media freedom.

During a pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune on Friday, demonstrators vandalized the office of AMN. The protesters also attempted to set fire to the media house.

The Nepal Army has been deployed to stop the chaos, arson, and looting being spread in the name of royalists.

According to a military source, Nepal Army personnel have been deployed to control chaos, looting, and arson spread by the pro-monarchy supporters in the Tinkune area today.

Nepal Army has deployed its personnel and vehicles in various parts of Kathmandu to take the situation under control.

The pro-monarchy protesters hurled stones and attempted to set fire the office of Annapurna's Media Network.

A journalist died during the protest of royalists in Tinkune on Friday.

Avenues TV journalist Suresh Rajak died in a fire set by the pro-monarchy protesters at a house in Tinkune this afternoon, police informed.

Avenues TV Editor Shiva Dahal said that Rajak died in a fire set by royalists at a private house in Tinkune.

He had been working as a camera person at the Avenues TV for the past five years.

According to Dahal, Rajak was filming a video of the protesters sitting on the roof of the house set on fire by the protesters.

Nepal Police spokesperson DIG Dinesh Kumar Acharya confirmed that a body has been recovered from the house that caught fire.

The body has been sent to the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for postmortem, he added.

Similarly, Sabin Maharjan (29) of Kirtipur lost his life in the clash, police informed. 

A person died and 30 others injured in a clash between pro-monarchy protesters and police personnel on Friday.

Organizing a press conference this evening, the Home Ministry said that 15 protesters and 15 security personnel were injured the clash.

The deceased has been identified as Sabin Sharma (29).

Sharma, who was injured in the clash breathed his last during the course of treatment, the Home Ministry informed.

A protest organized by pro-monarchy supporters in Kathmandu turned violent and destructive. A mob systematically attacked the Annapurna Media Network (AMN) Tower at Tinkune, Kathmandu. The protest escalated quickly as individuals threw stones, breaking windows and attempting to ignite a fire inside the building. This vicious attack severely damaged the exterior of the AMN building and endangered the lives of the reporters as well as employees working inside. The incident has raised grave concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Nepal, particularly as AMN has long been a respected and independent media outlet committed to providing unbiased and reliable news.

In addition to targeting AMN, the protestors also set fire to and caused significant damage to several commercial and residential properties in the Tinkune area.

Annapurna Media Network is calling for immediate action from both the national and international communities to ensure the protection of journalists and the safeguarding of media institutions. This assault is being viewed as an attack on democratic values and free press, requesting global media rights organizations to strongly condemning the violence. AMN remains committed to its mission of responsible journalism but stresses the urgent need for collective efforts to protect press freedom in Nepal and prevent future attacks on media houses and other corporate entities. The General Manager of Annapurna Media Network condemned the act, stating, “The attack on a reputed media house is an act of terrorism. We strongly condemn such violent and terrorist activities against independent media organizations. We call upon national and international organizations to stand with us in solidarity, and we urge the government to take strict action against those responsible for this horrific act of violence.” AMN seeks the support of all relevant national and international entities to ensure justice and security for media professionals in Nepal.

Media Action Nepal has condemned the recent attacks on media houses, including the stone-pelting incident at the Kantipur Television and Annapurna Post offices this afternoon (March 28). The targeted attacks on the offices of these media houses, which serve as the cornerstone of independent journalism in Nepal, represent a grave assault on the freedom of the press.

On Friday (March 28), demonstrators, allegedly associated with royalist groups, resorted to violence by throwing stones at the Kantipur Television office in Tinukne area of Kathmandu, damaging the windows and creating an environment of fear and intimidation. Similarly, the Annapurna Post office in Tinkune was also attacked with stones, disrupting its operations and putting the safety of journalists and staff at risk.

“These acts of attacks are unacceptable and reflect a serious threat to the media’s ability to operate freely,” said Laxman Datt Pant, Executive Director of Media Action Nepal. Pant called for those responsible for damaging media property to be held accountable under the law. He also urged all political groups and demonstrators to respect journalists’ rights and refrain from any acts of violence or intimidation that disrupt the media’s ability to operate freely.