Morang. The Morang District Court has ordered the release of journalist Tejan Khadka on bail of Rs 75,000.
A single bench of District Judge Keshav Prasad Ghimire remanded Khadka on bail of Rs 75,
000.
The charge sheet was filed against Khadka as per Section 47 (1) of the Electronic Transaction Act, 2063. Urlabari-7 Ward Chair Urmila Thapa had filed a complaint against her for posting character assassination content on Facebook using her personal photo. Khadka was arrested by the police from his residence in Urlabari-9 last Friday. After this, he was kept at the District Police Office, Morang, Biratnagar and the investigation process was forwarded. Nepal Press Union, Federation of Nepali Journalists and other organizations had objected to his arrest and demanded his immediate release.
The background of the incident
is connected to the playground that the local youths are trying to build on the banks of the river at Urlabari-7. When the youths started preparing to clear the bushes and build the ground, the ward office had stopped the construction of a park at the site. After this, the local youths came out in protest.
Earlier, there was a discussion at the local level about the unwanted gathering of drug users and youths. Regarding the same issue and the controversy over the construction of the playground, Khadka had written a status on social media in a sarcastic style saying, ‘Let’s leave the ground and park, make a red light area, we will get income’.
Ward Chair Thapa had objected to the status and lodged a complaint with the police on the charge of electronic crime. Khadka, who is known as a journalist and social worker in the Urlabari area, has been continuously raising voice against local problems, issues of public concern and social anomalies. The arrest of journalist Khadka for his views on social media has sparked a new debate on freedom of expression, journalistic dignity and limits on the use of social media. According to the court order, Khadka will be released on bail and the case will be finalized through the legal process.
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