Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) staged protest programmes in various parts of the country, including Kathmandu, on Sunday in protest of the killing of Kailali-based journalist Jagat Prasad Joshi under mysterious circumstances following his abduction.

FNJ organised a protest rally from New Baneshwor in the capital at 2 pm, which later converged into a mass assembly after reaching Babarmahal.

Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi, lawmaker Nilamber Acharya, journalists from various press associations and other people participated in the protest rally.

Speaking at the rally, FNJ General Secretary Poshan K.C said that violence against journalists has increased in the country because of the government’s failure to book the culprits involved in previous cases. K.C also demanded immediate action against the culprit, proper compensation to the victims’ family and security for journalists.

All district chapters of the umbrella organisation of Nepalese journalists, as per the previously announced schedule, organized protest programmes through the nation.

On Saturday, FNJ expressed serious concern about the murder of journalist J.P Joshi whose skeletal remains were found in Pragati Mahila Community Forest in Malakheti VDC, Kailali.

The FNJ also formed a team to carry out an independent probr of the incident.

Joshi, who was the editor of Dhangadhi edition of Janadisha daily, had been missing since October 8. He was a member of the pro-Maoist Revolutionary Journalists Association.

Joshi’s family has already filed a case against Lokendra Rawat and his brother Karan Rawat at the Kailali District Administration Office, alleging them of killing Joshi Saturday. Police has already arrested Karan on the basis of the complaint but Lokendra has been absconding since.