MEDIA RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SOUTH ASIA BY
JOURNALISTS’ SAFETY INDICATORS (JSI)

July 8, 2020: Zabul (A)(C)
Journalist Mahbubullah Hakmi is arrested by national security due to publication of a report deemed insulting report to the president.

December 9, 2020: Bamiyan (A)(C)
Journalist Zaman Ahmadi is arrested by the Afghan government.

February 27, 2020: Nangarhar (A)(C)
Aziz Watanwal, a reporter for Khurzhid TV, is arrested by order of the governor after visiting a hospital to interview injured citizens.

March 11, 2020: Kandahar (A)(C)
Jamaluddin Shirzad, photographer for Tamadon TV, is arrested by national security forces after he transported a drone. 

May 9, 2019: Puli Khumri (C)
Ismail Sadat, from Sima radio, is threatened by armed men.

May 19, 2019: Takhar (C)
Irfan Bazgar and Shafiqullah Poya journalists of Salam Watandar radio and Khorshid TV are threatened by the provincial commander of Takhar for sharing news without coordination with the commander. 

July 6, 2019: Uruzgan (C)
Fazal Ahmad Basharmal and Sardar Wali Samsoor, radio reporters with Paiwastoon Ghag, are threatened by the Taliban. 

July 7, 2019: Ghazni (C)
Ramizullah, manager of Samaa radio, is threatened by the Taliban. 

November 5, 2019: Baghlan (C)
Adiburahman Fazli, a publisher at a local television station in the Baghlan province is threatened by unknown armed men. 

December 2, 2019: Logar (C)
Matiullah Sarwar, manager of Paiwand Milli radio, is threatened by Shahpor Hasanzai, a member of parliament from Logar.

May 9, 2020: Ghor (C)
Ahmad Khlan Nawid, a volunteer presenter for Voice of Ghor Radio, is shot in the back of the head and killed instantly during a clash between police and protestors over the unfair distribution of food aid during the Covid-19 pandemic.

May 30, 2020: Kabul (C)
Kurshid TV journalist Zamir Amiri and technician Shafiqullah Zabih are killed in a targeted roadside bombing after a bus carrying 15 Khurshid TV station employees is attacked. The attack injures at least seven others, including six other Khurshid TV staff as well as the driver.

November 7, 2020: Makrorayan-e-Char, Kabul
Yama Siawash, a former TOLO news television journalist, is killed in a targeted explosion on a vehicle carrying Siawash and two other persons.

 November 12, 2020: Helmand (C)
Elyas Daee, a Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE / RL) correspondent, is killed when a car bomb explodes in his car. 

 December 10, 2020: Nangarhar (F)(C)
Malala Maiwand, 25, a female TV anchor for Enkaas TV and Radio, is killed by gunmen in a targeted attack. Her driver, Mohammad Tahir, also dies. The Islamic State (IS) claims responsibility for Maiwand’s shooting, terming her as a “pro-regime” journalist.

 December 21, 2020L Ghazni (B)(C)
Rahmatullah Nikzad, a reporter and photographer, is assassinated by unknown assailants. Nikzad is shot three times in the chest with a silencer pistol as he leaves home in the evening to visit a local mosque.

January 1, 2021: Dara-e-Taimoor, Ghor (C)
Bismillah Adil Aimaq, 28, editor-in-chief of Voice of Ghor radio, is killed by unidentified gunmen as he returns to Feroz Koh after visiting family in a nearby village.

March 2, 2021: Jalalabad, Nangarhar (F)(C)
Mursal Wahidi, Sadia Sadat, and Shahnaz Roafi, of Enikass TV dubbing division, are shot dead in two separate attacks.

January 15, 2021: Kunduz (C)
Zohra Radio is attacked by a mob of nearly a dozen people, led by the imam of a local mosque. The attackers damage the radio’s equipment and vandalise the office.

May 1, 2020: Ghorashal, Narsingdi (A)(G)
Three journalists are arrested and detained under the Digital Security Act (DSA). The journalists are Ramzan Ali Pramanik, news editor of Dainik Grameen Darpan; Shanta Banik, a reporter with Dainik Grameen Darpan; and Shaon Khondoker Shahin, editor of news website Narsingdi Pratidin.

May 3, 2020: Benapole, Jessore (A)(E)(G)
Shafiqul Islam Kajol, a photojournalist for Pakkhakal magazine who had been missing for nearly two months, is arrested by Bangladesh border guards. Kajol went missing on March 10, a day after being charged under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for allegedly publishing false information.

May 5, 2020: Balakapara, Sunamganj (A)
Mohammad Mahtab Uddin Talukder, the editor of Haorancholer Katha and district correspondent of SATV, is arrested at his residence over a Facebook post.

May 7, 2020: Ramna, Dhaka (G)
A case is filed against cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed under Section 25(1) (b), Section 31 and Section 35 of the Digital Security Act (DSA). The two journalists were among 11 people indicted the same day, including Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist Tasneem Khalil, US-based journalist Shahed Alam and German blogger Asif Mohiuddia. Only Kishore, Ahmed and Bhuiyan are charged, lack of evidence against the other eight accused is stated.

July 14, 2020: Amtoly, Barguna (B)(G)
Blogger Asaduzzaman Noor, also known as Asad Noor, is charged under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for allegedly spreading rumours and defaming Islam on Facebook.

October 21, 2020: Dhaka (A)(G)
Ruhul Amin Gazi, chief reporter for The Daily Sangram, is arrested on accusations of sedition after an article is published praising an executed opposition leader. Police said Gazi failed to appear in a number of court hearings in the sedition case under the Digital Security Act (DSA) filed against him.

October 31, 2020: Raipur, Lakshmipur (G)
AKM Mizanur Rahman, editor and publisher of the Daily Banglar Mukul; executive editor, Afroza Akter Ranga; Mohona TV correspondent SN Uddin Riad and Asian TV correspondent Jahirul Islam Titu are charged under the Digital Security Act (DSA) after a First Information Report (FIR) alleges the journalists’ coverage was false and intentionally tarnished the reputation of a mayor in Raipur.

February 4, 2021: Dhaka (A) (G)
Cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed are formally charged under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for publishing material alleged to have the potential to ‘destroy communal harmony and create unrest’.

February 8, 2021: Kamrangirchar (A) (G)
Shafiqul Islam Kajol, editor of Pakkhakal, is charged under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for publishing material alleged to have the potential to ‘destroy communal harmony and create unrest’.

February 10, 2021: Dhaka (A) (G)
Nur Mohammad, the owner of Guardian Publications, is arrested by police at his home on charges of associating with suspects accused of spreading fake news about the prime minister and her son.

April 20, 2021: Khulna (A)(G)
Abu Tayyab, a senior television journalist, is arrested by police under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for writing social media posts about alleged corruption.

July 4, 2020: Muradnagar, Comilla
Shariful Alam Chowdhury, a reporter for Daily Samakal, is assaulted by several members of the local citizen union, the Union Parishad.

 October 29, 2020: Sitakunda, Chattogram (E)
Local news portal journalist Golam Sarwar is reported missing. He is found unconscious near a canal on November 1, heavily bruised and stripped of his clothes. 

March 25-26, 2021: Dhaka/Bangladesh
At least 17 journalists are injured covering anti-Modi demonstration across Bangladesh. Journalists are beaten with sticks and their press passes snatched. 

April 6, 2021: Sonargaon, Narayanganj
Hefazat activists attack local correspondent of satellite channel SA TV, Habibur Rahman, dragging him out of his home, assaulting him and ransacking his house. 

April 11, 2021: Eskaton, Dhaka (J)
At least ten journalists, who were earlier sacked from daily Janakantha on March 15, are injured in an attack in front of the newspaper’s office as they protest their termination. 

April 15, 2021: Kulaghat, Lalmonirhat
Jahangir Alam Shahin, a district correspondent of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, and a friend Sohag Islam are attacked with sticks by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) while trying to get information regarding incidents of drug smuggling in the area.

April 27, 2021: Habiganj, Sylhet Division
The Daily Amar Habiganj is attacked. Some of the suspects are alleged to be members of the Awami League.

October 12, 2020: Narayanganj, Dhaka
Iliyas Hossain, 45, a correspondent of Dainik Bijoy, is hacked to death by miscreants while returning home from work for allegedly exposing a criminal nexus in gas line distribution. 

February 20, 2021: Companigani Upzilla, Noakhali
Borhan Uddin Muzakkir, a 25-year-old journalist with Bangla Samachar and bartabazar.com, sustains a fatal bullet injury to the neck while reporting on clashes between two warring factions of the ruling Awami League.

February 25, 2021: Dhaka (A)
Writer Mushtaq Ahmed, earlier detained under the Digital Security Act (DSA) in May 2020, for allegedly posting criticism of the government’s response to the Covid-19 on Facebook, dies in police custody in the high-security Kashimpur prison.

April 19, 2020: Habiganj, Sylhet Division
The Daily Amar Habiganj office is attacked by miscreants. They also attack around eight flats, including the father-in-law’s house of the editor-publisher of the newspaper.

July 6, 2020: India (F)(I)
Rana Ayyub’s social media account pages are flooded with rape and death threats after she writes posts about a Kashmiri civilian allegedly killed in crossfire between militants and Indian paramilitary forces.

September 26, 2020: Kanker District, Chhattisgarh
Kamal Shukla, the editor of Bhumkal Samachar magazine and head of the Patrakar Suraksha Kanoon Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, an organisation to protect journalists, is assaulted and threatened by ruling party cadres.

May 5, 2020: Guwahati, Assam (F) 
TV journalist Ranjita Rabha is forced by Prag News management to submit her resignation for  not being “mobile” enough to report after she disclosed that she was pregnant. 

May 10, 2020: Delhi (D) 
Indian Express reporter Mahender Singh Manral is summoned by police for questioning over news reports about forensic evidence that audio clips of Tablighi Jamaat chief, Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, were doctored.

May 11, 2020: Ahmedabad, Gujarat (A)(G)
Dhaval Patel, the editor of Face of Nation news website, is arrested and charged with sedition for spreading false news after a report alleging Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani may be replaced for mishandling the Covid-19 response.

May 14, 2020: (G)
Police begin investigations against Gulshan Kumar Mithu, a journalist with Dainik Bhaskar, in connection to a report about protests about poor food and living conditions by migrant workers in a government quarantine facility. 

May 16, 2020: Himachal Pradesh (D)
Himachal Pradesh police file a First Information Report (FIR) against Somdev Sharma, the Manali-based correspondent for Punjab Kesari, after he reports on the administration’s laxity in quarantining inter-state travelers.

May 16, 2020: Maharashtra (D)
Police file a First Information Report (FIR) against Rahul Zori, reporter with TV9 Marathi news channel, for his report on corruption in the Hadakhed relief camp for migrants.

 May 18, 2020: Maholi, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh (H)(G)(D)
Police file a First Information Report (FIR) against Today 24news journalist Ravindra Saxena for a report on the mismanagement of a quarantine centre. He is charged under the Prevention of Atrocities Act and the Disaster Management Act.

 May 18, 2020: Uttar Pradesh (D)  
Police lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against Aashish Avasthi, editor of Media Break, for a news item regarding problems being faced by Home Guards during Covid-19.

 May 22, 2020: Punjab (D)
Police file a case against Jai Singh Chibber, reporter with the Punjabi Jagran newspaper, for ‘disobeying a public official and making statements which incite the commission of an offence’ and ‘obscenity’) for his report about congress minister. 

May 20, 2020: Srinagar, Kashmir (H)
A day after publishing an article on a Srinagar gunfight, Fahad Shah, the founding editor of The Kashmir Walla, is detained at Srinagar cyber police station in connection to reports on an attack on two photojournalists in Srinagar.

May 23, 2020: Kanker, Chhattisgarh (A)(G)(D)
Sishil Sharma, editor of Bastar Bandhu has a First Information Report (FIR) registered against him and is arrested for his reporting on corruption in Kanker, Chhattisgarh.

May 24, 2020: Madhya Pradesh (D)(G)
Police file a case against senior journalist Tansen Tiwari, for allegedly referring to Bharatiya Janata Party leaders as gappu (braggart) and tadipar (externed) in a social media post. He was booked for ‘public acts of obscenity’, ‘defamation’ and for ‘publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form’. 

May 24, 2020: Saraikela (A)
Basant Sahu, a reporter with a vernacular daily, is arrested for asking a deputy commissioner about Covid-19 cases and circulating his response.

 June 6, 2020: New Delhi (G)(D)
Police file a First Information Report (FIR) against senior journalist Vinod Dua following a complaint filed by a BJP spokesperson for alleged defamatory remarks on his YouTube show.

 June 11, 2020: Bengaluru (D)
Police file a case against journalist Aakar Patel in connection with tweets that allegedly suggest that members of marginalised groups in India should emulate protests in the United States.

June 12, 2020: Himachal Pradesh (D)
Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against journalist Vinod Dua on charges of sedition, public nuisance, statements conducing to public mischief and printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory. 

June 13, 2020: Ramnagar, Uttarakhand (D)
A First Information Report (FIR) is lodged at Ramnagar police, against Supriya Sharma, the executive editor of news portal Scroll.in, for a report on the lockdown in India’s prime minister Narendra Modi’s constituency, Varanasi. 

July 3, 2020: Surat West, Gujarat (D)(I)
A First Information Report (FIR) is filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA against journalist Aakar Patel in relation to tweets about the Ghanchi community posted on June 24 and 27.

July 6, 2020: Meghalaya, Northeast India (I)(D)
A First Information Report (FIR) complaint is filed against veteran journalist and Shillong Times editor, Patricia Mukhim, for allegedly creating communal disharmony through a Facebook post.

July 6, 2020: Khammam district, Telangana (A) (G)
Police arrest Aadab Telangana editor, Veeramalla Satyam; sub-editor Shiva and reporter Venkateshwara Rao on charges of publishing false news and spreading rumours.

July 8, 2020: Meghalaya (D)(I)
The head of the Lawsohtun village council files a complaint against Patricia Mukhim, editor of Shillong Times, for a social media post alleging the post could incite communal tension.

July 14, 2020: Jammu and Kashmir (I)
The Jammu and Kashmir administration extends 4G internet restrictions in the region to July 29.

July 16, 2020: Dhubri, Assam (A)(D)
DY365 correspondent Rajib Sharma is detained by police after a Dhubri Divisional Forest Officer lodges a First Information Report on charges of extortion and misbehaviour with the official’s wife. It follows his reporting on illegal cattle smuggling in the area.

July 31, 2020: Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Qazi Shibli, the editor of news portal The Kashmiriyat, is summoned for questioning by the police cybercrime cell without any reason. He is detained at Shergarh police station following a lengthy interrogation.

August 7, 2020: Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh (G)(I)
Journalist Sankalp Neb is booked for allegedly sharing an unverified Twitter post that suggests negative Covid-19 reports were manipulated with a positive spin by district health authorities.

August 18, 2020: Delhi (A)(G)(I)
Transcontinental Times journalist Prashant Kanojia is arrested at his residence for social media posts that allegedly “disturbed communal harmony”.

September 8, 2020: Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh
Police book five journalists in Bijnor on charges of circulating fake news reports. Journalists Ashish Tomar and Shakil Ahmed and three other unnamed journalists were said to have tried to ‘vitiate social amity’ by circulating fake news.

 September 14, 2020: Delhi (A)(G)
Journalist Rajeev Sharma is arrested under the Official Secrets Act over allegations of espionage and selling Indian defense secrets to China.

September 19, 2020: Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Auqib Javeed is summoned and assaulted by the region’s cyber wing over a news report published on Article 14 about police intimidation of social media users critical of the government.

Sept 20, 2020: Imphal, Manipur (A)(C)(G)(I)
Journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem, earlier arrested on charges of sedition and then under the National Security Act, , is again arrested on charges of sedition, criminal intimidation and “promoting enmity between different groups” after he posted a comment on Facebook. 

October 2, 2020: Lucknow (B)
Freelance journalist Asad Rizvi files a police complaint against policemen who beat him up while he was on an assignment.

 October 5, 2020: Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (A)(G) (C)
Journalist Siddique Kappan, of Malayalam news portal Azhimukham, is arrested en route to Hathras to meet the family of the 19-year-old Dalit woman, allegedly gang-raped and murdered by four men from a dominant caste in the region. He is charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and accused of having links with the Popular Front of India (PFI).

October 15, 2020: Bhubaneswar, Odisha (A)
Ramesh Rath, a senior journalist affiliated with Odisha Television (OTV), is picked by police near his residence.

Oct 18, 2020: Delhi (G)
Delhi Police detain Ahan Penkar, a journalist from Caravan magazine and charge him and nine others of criminal conspiracy for allegedly protesting outside Model Town police station.

 December 1, 2020: Rajkot, Gujarat (D)
A First Information Report (FIR) is registered against reporters Pritipalsibh Gohil, Mahendrasinh Jadeja and Imran Hothi, as well as photographer Prakash Ramesh after they conduct a ‘sting’ operation at Rajkot Taluka police station after a fire in an intensive care unit of a designated Covid-19 hospital in Rajkot.

December 11, 2020: Anantnag, South Kashmir (C)
Three journalists, Fayaz Lolu of ETV Bharat, Mudasir Qadri, of News18 Urdu, and Junaid Rafiq, of TV 9, are detained by police after covering the District Development Council poll. Their equipment is also seized and damaged.

 January 17, 2021: Imphal, Manipur (G)
The executive editor of The Frontier Manipur news portal, Paojel Chaoba, and editor-in-chief, Dhiren Sadokpam, are booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act over an article criticizing the state’s militancy movement and the union government. 

 January 20, 2021: Kutch District, Gujarat (A)(D)(G)
A non-bailable arrest warrant is issued against senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, following the filing of a defamation case by mining giant the Adani Group. 

January 30, 2021: Jammu & Kashmir (B)(D) (C)
A criminal investigation is launched against Kashmirwalla reporter Yashraj Sharma and Kashmiriyat reporter Mir Junaid for reports published on January 27 revealing that schools in Shopian district were pressured by the army.

February 12, 2021: Bandipora, Jammu & Kashmir (B)(G) (C)
Freelance journalist Sajad Gul is booked for rioting, trespassing and assaulting a public servant after reporting on an alleged demolition drive in Bandipora district for The Kashmir Walla.

February 15, 2021: Delhi (A)(B)(G)
Delhi police detain freelance journalist Mandeep Punia and charge seven other journalists for reporting on farmer protests in Delhi, including six charged with sedition for reporting or sharing news about the protest. Journalists charged are Rajdeep Sardesai, an anchor on India Today; Mrinal Pande, of National Herald; Zafar Agha, of Qaumi Awaz; and Paresh Nath, Anant Nath, and Vinod K. Jose of The Caravan.

February 20, 2021: Uttar Pradesh (D)(I)
First Information Reports (FIRs) are filed against journalist Barkha Dutt and seven other Twitter users for allegedly propagating fake news in connection with the death of two minor Dalit girls.

February 22, 2021: Manipur (B)(I)
The Manipur Assembly bars freelance journalist Grace Jajo from entering the State Assembly and covering a budget session because of a Facebook post alleged to be in “breach of privilege and contempt of the House”. 

February 25, 2021: India (H)(I)
The Government of India announces a new Digital Media Ethics Code, described by unions and media industry activists as capable of curbing press freedom and unduly controlling digital media and other platforms.

 April 8, 2021: Guwahati, Assam (A)(G)(I)
Sikha Sarma, a writer and columnist from Assam, is arrested on charges of sedition and other charges and sent to judicial custody over an alleged social media post on security forces following the deaths of 22 soldiers  in the deadly Maoists attack in Chhattisgarh.

 April 9, 2021: Hisar, Haryana (D)(I)
Police lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against journalist Rajesh Kundu, of news portal The Ink, on charges of “cyber terrorism” and “promoting communal disharmony” and making assertions prejudicial to national-integration for messages posted on various social media platforms.

May 17, 2020: Shapar, Gujarat
ABP Gujarati correspondent Hardik Joshi is critically injured after being attacked by a group of protesting migrant workers.

June 29, 2020: Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India
Journalist Hofe Dada is confronted and assaulted while filming a piece on pollution levels at a factory.

July 20, 2020: Uttarakhand
Rajiv Nayan Bahuguna, a journalist associated with Nav Bharat Times, Dinman, Hindustan Hindi, Outlook and other national dailies and periodicals, is attacked by thugs after receiving threatening messages from unknown numbers.

July 21, 2020: Bahjoi, Uttarakhand (A)
BBC correspondent Dilnawaz Pasha is subjected to abuse and detained for six hours by police after going to the police station to gather information for a report.

August 11, 2020: Delhi (F) (C)
Caravan contributor Prabhjit Singh; assistant photo editor, Shahid Tantray; and a female reporter from Caravan magazine are beaten, subjected to slurs, threatened with death and sexually harassed while reporting on communal tensions in north east Delhi.

November 7, 2020: Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh (C)
Vinay Tiwari, a journalist for local Hindi news website Bundelkhand Times, is seriously injured in an attack allegedly by the family of Dhaurra village head and a number of other assailants.

November 16, 2020: Mizra, Assam (C)
Milan Mahanta, a correspondent for daily newspaper Asomiya Pratidin, is tied to a post and beaten by numerous assailants.

November 27, 2020: Kalwari, Uttar Pradesh (C)
Rakesh Singh Nirbhek, a reporter for Hindi newspaper Rashtriya Swaroop, and a friend are assaulted and suffer fatal burns when his house is set on fire by three assailants.

December 1, 2020: Pension Mohalla, Karnataka (F)
Senior journalist and editor of Vijaya Times, Vijayalakshmi Shibaroor, is threatened and physically assaulted by a violent mob.

January 26, 2021: Delhi (F)
Aishwarya Jain, Ajit Shrivastava, Priya Singh and Aditya Nair, working for the iTV-owned NewsX and India News outlets, suffer verbal abuse, pelting with stones and intimidation during a Republic Day tractor rally.

January 27, 2021: Delhi (B)(F)
Freelance journalist Neha Dixit and her partner, filmmaker Nakul Singh Sawhney, report ongoing threats, harassment and stalking since September 2020, including a break-in attempt at their home.

March 11, 2021: Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
Several journalists are pushed, chased and assaulted by Samajwadi Party cadres and security personnel of party leader, Akhilesh Yadav.

June 19, 2020: Unnao, Uttar Pradesh
Reporter Shubham Mani Tripathi is fatally shot in a suspected retaliatory attack for his journalism.

July 22, 2020: Niwari, Madhya Pradesh (B)
Sunil Tiwari, 39, a stringer with Nai Duniya newspaper, dies after being attacked by thugs who fire shots at him and strike him with sticks and an axe.

November 10, 2020: Kundrathrur, Tamil Nadu
G. Moses, a reporter for Tamilian TV, is hacked to death allegedly for his coverage of illegal land grabbing.

November 11, 2020: Tinsukia, Assam
Senior journalist Parag Bhuyan is fatally injured in a road accident. Family members allege it is connected to his work.

December 14, 2020: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Journalist S V Pradeep is killed in a hit-and–run road accident in suspicious circumstances.

June 27, 2020: India
State Broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, issues a warning to the Press Trust of India that it proposes to review its ties following its Ladakh conflict coverage as it was not in “national interest”. 

August 23, 2020: Meghalaya (H)
The Shillong Times is shut down by the East Khasi Hills district administration for ten days after allegedly violating Covid-19 health protocols, after three staffers tested positive for Covid-19.

September 10, 2020: Shillong, Meghalaya
The Shillong Times sacks three senior journalists: news editor, EM Jose; features editor, Nabamita Mitra; and executive editor, Dipankar Roy; about two weeks after the newspaper’s office in Shillong was closed for “violation” of Covid protocols. 

October 4, 2020: Jammu & Kashmir (C)(D)
A First Information Report (FIR) is registered against the Kashmirfight website after it publishes a list of journalists and activists allegedly funded by the Indian government to spread public anxiety.

September 28, 2020: Bengaluru, Karnataka (H)
Private broadcaster Power TV is raided after broadcasting reports on corruption allegations against Chief Minister Yediyurappa and his family members. 

October 19, 2020: Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir (H)
The office of The Kashmir Times is sealed by the Jammu and Kashmir  estates department, with no due process. Executive editor  Anuradha Bhasin calls it a retaliation for their critical reporting.

February 13, 2021: Imphal West, Manipur
The office of Poknapham newspaper is pelted with grenades by unidentified miscreants. 

February 9 – 14, 2021: Delhi/ Uttar Pradesh (G)
Indian news portal Newsclick is targeted in a five-day raid by the Enforcement Directorate over allegations of international money laundering. 

19 February 19, 2021: Male
Maldives Police attack Channel 13 camera operator Mohamed Shaheem and harass the channel’s chief operating officer, Mohamed Samah, and station deputy-in-charge, Hussain Ihsan, in two separate incidents during opposition-led protests.

December 16, 2020: Kathmandu
Chairman of online news portal kathmandukhabar.com, Ashis Guragain, and its editor-in-chief, Keshab Raj Pathak, receive death threats.

February 3, 2021: Pokhara (C)
Ram Krishna Gyawali, chief editor of Samadhan Dainik, receives death threats and verbal abuse over the phone from an unidentified person. A threat to explode the newspaper’s office with bombs is also issued.

 June 14, 2020: Kathmandu
Managing director of Kathmandupress.com, Gobinda Pariya, is verbally abused and his life threatened by the owner of Sumeg Travels Megh KC.

May 5, 2020: Pokhara (C)
Police inspectors Narahari Adhikari and Dipak KC harass journalist Prem Nepali. Nepali is obstructed from taking video and police attempt to seize his video equipment.

May 10, 2020: Birgunj (A)
Police arrest Tiwari Yadav, of Naya Patrika Daily and Narayani FM, on charges of parking a motorcycle on the pavement near FM Radio Station.

June 4, 2020: Baluwasangrahi, Salyan (C)
Journalist Khagendra Sunar is obstructed from reporting, despite showing a press card.

June 8, 2020: Kathmandu
The CPN (Maoist) faction issues threats over news published by Janaaastha.com.

June 9, 2020: Ghodaghodi, Kailali (C)
Local businessman Hom Prasad Acharya verbally abuses and threatens journalist Tanka Prasad Kandel.

June 11, 2020: Syangja (C)
Nepal Samarcharpatra correspondent Bhupa Raj Galyanka is called for questioning by district police over his reporting.

June 11, 2020: Surkhet (C)
Attempts are made to tarnish the image of the editor of Karnali Patra Surya, Mani Gautam, through online portals.

August 2, 2020: Saljhandi (C)
Journalist Dinesh Pandey and Setopati correspondent and news chief of Lumbini Television, Bhagawati Pandey, are harassed by police and have a camera seized.

September 9, 2020: Sindhupalchowk (I)
Social media posts and statements issued by district coordination committee, Sindhupalchowk, term media reports on illegal sand extraction as ‘yellow journalism”.

September 18, 2020: Kathmandu
Police harass Royal Acharya, of onlinekhabar.com, and photojournalist Chandra Bahadur Ale in New Baneshwor in Kathmandu.

October 19, 2020: Saptari (C)
Kantipur Daily correspondent Awadhesh Jha is attacked and obstructed by police while reporting.

January 4, 2021: Kathmandu (A)
Program host of TV Today, Mohan Pant; sancharkhabar.com journalist Mandhwaj Lama; and executive editor of Aaajako Naya Sansleshan, Sher Bahadur Bishwakarma are arrested.

April 13, 2021: Kathmandu
Kedar Dahal, a journalist with Naya Patrika daily was obstructed by the Nepal police from reporting about Indian nationals waiting in queue to receive a ‘No objection letter’. 

April 25, 2021: Kathmandu (A)(C)
Police arrest Anish Tamang, of Ujyaalo Network, and Durga Lal Tamang, of Basundhara, for allegedly publishing fake news on its news portal about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

May 29, 2020: Tikapur, Kailali (C)
Bipha Chaudhary, a technician with Radio Namaste, is seriously injured after being attacked by three assailants.

June 9, 2020: Makawanpur (C)
Balram Pudasaini, the news chief of Tukhabar.com, is harassed by Ramesh Gelal of Hetauda Municipality-9.

June 11, 2020: Ghorahi, Dang (C)
Sabin Priyasan is attacked by a group of three youths.

June 24, 2020: Kathmandu
Trishuli TV news chief, Sujit Bhandari, is attacked and his camera seized and vandalised. The editor of Trishuli Khabar, Nawadeep Shrestha, and chief of Mix FM, Bishnu Prasad Adhikari, are also attacked and their vehicles vandalized.

July 16, 2020: Kathmandu
Hamro Khelkhud, the editor of online portal Prakash Timalsina, is verbally abused and attacked by the former president of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), Ganesh Thapa, and his son.

August 10, 2020: Kailali (C)
Kantipur correspondent Ganesh Chaudhary is assaulted and injured in an attack by five individuals.

September 6, 2020: Surya Binayak, Sanga
A senior correspondent for National News Agency, Rajaram Karki, is seriously injured in a beating from teacher Uddhav Karki at Nepal Police School.

September 11, 2020: Dhangadhi (C)
A group of 15-20 people manhandle and beat up journalist Janak Bista and his colleagues in an attack in his office at Dinesh Sanchargriha.

November 27, 2020: Jhapa (C)
Jhapa Correspondent for f News 24 Television, Raju Paudel, is attacked by an employee of Bhadrapur Custom Office and a local businessman.

December 1, 2020: Jhapa (C)
The editor of news portal anusandhan.com, Khagendra Ghimire; and cameraperson Bhaskar Shrestha are attacked while shooting a video of an employee at the Land Revenue Office.

February 4, 2021: Kathmandu
A group of cadres from the Dahal-Nepal faction of the Nepal Communist Party attack Madan Giri, a journalist working Aarthik Abhiyan Daily and Kanchanpur Daily.

February 5, 2021: Dailekh (C)
Journalist Sher Bahadur Thapa is attacked.

February 5, 2021: Kathmandu
A group of cadres belonging to the Nepal Communist Party attack journalists Binu Subedi, of Kantipur Daily; Dipesh Shahi, of Nayapatrika Daily; Dipa Dahal, of Deshsanchar.com; and other journalists.

March 15, 2021: Kathmandu
A team of police from the Metropolitan Police Circle in Janasewa attack the editor of www.tvannapurna.com, Raju Subedi.

April 13, 2021: Kathmandu
A construction contractor Manoj Bhetawal and his men physically assault the publisher and journalist of Nepalaaja.com, Madhav Prasad Guragain.

April 14, 2021: Tanahu (C)
Pawan Paudel, reporter for Annapurna Post was manhandled by a commander of local Kalibhanjan battalion for taking a photographs of the army running in Damauli Bazar, Tanahu. The army commander erased the photograph in his camera.

April 20, 2021: Mahottari (C)
Police intimidated Rajkaran Mahato, a journalist affiliated with Annapurna Post daily for taking a video of the scuffle between two parties held in front of police office Gaushala in Mahottari. The police thrashed the journalist and deleted the video from his mobile phone.

July 6, 2020: Bajura district (C)(E)
A DNA test confirms a body found in November 2019 matches that of Tej Bahadur Khadka, a Bajura-based Radio Budhinanda journalist who went missing on August 27, 2018.

September 6, 2020: Baglung
A local of Baglung Municipality-4, Kudunle, publishes intimidatory and inflammatory comments and photos about Baglung district correspondent for Avenues TV, Rajesh Chandra Rajbhandari; Mountain TV correspondent, Subas Acharya; and deputy editor of E-Baglung, Ram Prasad Ghimire.

April 16, 2021: Kathmandu
Nepal Police carried out a search operation in the house and office of journalist Babin Sharma  accusing him of copying the wrong news about an agreement between Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the representative of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Indian intelligence agency. The News was originally published in Ujyali News Network and copied by many news organisations.

April 18, 2021 : Kailali (C)
A group of assailants attacked the office of Redstar FM and its managing director Basanta Jaisi in Lamki. The reason for the attack remains unknown.

April 29, 2021: Dadheldhura
The Division Forest Office Dadheldhura bulldozed  the three storied building of the FNJ Dandheldhura, an action supported by the Nepal Police.

September 3, 2020: Pakistan/UK
Ahmad Noorani, a co-founder and reporter at investigative news website FactFocus, receives death threats for an article detailing the financial assets of retired Army General Asim Saleem Bajwa. The September 3 threats followed an ARY News segment aired on August 29, that called Noorani’s report “fake news”. UK-based journalist Gul Bukhari, who was also referred to in the Ary report, also receives death threats.

March 26, 2021: Lahore, Punjab
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) secretary general, Rana Muhammad Azeem, receives a death threat after exposing a mafia gangster in a television appearance.

July 21, 2020: Islamabad (E)
Matiullah Jan, a senior Pakistani journalist, is abducted in broad daylight in Islamabad. Unidentified persons abducted the journalist for more than 12 hours, releasing him in a deserted area outside the capital.

September 11, 2020: Karachi, Sindh (A)(I)
The Express Tribune journalist Bilal Farooqi is arrested for posting allegedly anti-military and sectarian posts on social media. He is released the following day.

September 11, 2020: Jhelum, Punjab (D)
A First Information Report (FIR) is filed against Journalist Absar Alam accusing him of using offensive language against Pakistan’s military and Prime Minister Imran Khan on twitter and social media.

September 11, 2020: Karachi, Pakistan (G)(I)
Journalist Bilal Farooqi is charged with sedition for publishing allegedly ‘objectionable’ and ‘derogatory’ material online. 

September 12, 2020: Islamabad, Pakistan (G)(I)
Asad Toor, a journalist with Samaa TV, is charged for sedition under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for “negative propaganda” against the state and the military through his social media accounts.      

September 23, 2020: Islamabad (A)
Ehtisham Kiyani, a reporter for Channel 24, is arrested on false charges for allegedly bearing weapons in Islamabad’s High Court.

November 6, 2020: Quetta (A)(E)
Media columnist and social media activist Bayazid Kharoti, reported ‘missing’ since November 4, is located and arrested on charges of meddling in the work of police. 

February 28, 2021: Lahore, Punjab (D)
A court notice published in The Daily Jang levels allegations of criminal conduct against secretary general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rana Muhammad Azeem. 

March 10, 2021: Peshawar (H)
Peshawar High Court orders the Pakistan Telecom Authority to ban social media platform TikTok for two weeks for allegedly refusing to remove “immoral content”.

March 17, 2021: Karachi, Sindh (B)(G)
Police register anti-terrorism cases against bureau chief of Samaa TV, Sahil Jogi; bureau chief of Abb Takk TV, Imdad Phulpoto; reporter for Daily Puchano Rustam Indhar; and freelance journalist Adam Shanbani for coverage of a protest.

May 21, 2020: Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (C)  
Ijaz Ahmed Khan, a sports reporter for Associated Press, is accosted and savagely assaulted near his home by two motorcyclists.

June 2, 2020: Taluka Lakhi Ghulam Shah, Shikarpur
Daily Koshish journalist Jamil Mahar is shot and critically injured by unidentified assailants.

June 20, 2020: Balochistan (C)
Agents with the Pakistani Balochistan Levies detain and beat Saeed Ali Achakzai, a reporter with Samaa TV, and Abdul Mateen Achakzai, a reporter for Khyber TV.

July 22, 2020: Jahanian, Punjab
Shikh Shan, a correspondent for Express News group, is attacked by unknown individuals.

August 8, 2020: Okara, Punjab
Abbas Ali Jutt, a journalist with Daily Sahafat, is attacked by an alleged drug dealer. 

October 8, 2020: Karachi, Sindh (E)
Nabeel Jakhura and Shabi Al Hassan, the president and assistant vice president of BOL Network respectively, are abducted.

October 23, 2020: Karachi, Sindh (E)
Ali Imran Syed, a reporter for Geo News, is reported missing after a suspected abduction. He is found safe after 22 hours.  

December 18, 2020: Sindh
Imdad Phulphoto, Abb Takk’s TV Sukkur bureau chief, and television journalist Altaf Kalwar are attacked after stories exposing local mafia operations.

December 18, 2020: Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (B)
Freelance journalist Fazal Karim’s house is attacked with a rocket by unidentified persons.

May 26, 2020: Jacobabad
Zulfiqar Ali Mandrani, a senior journalist with Daily Koshish, is shot dead by two assailants.

July 23, 2020: Barkhan, Balochistan
Journalist Anwar Jan Khetran, of Naveed-e-Pakistan, is shot dead by two gunmen while

September 25, 2020: Mandi Bahaudin, Malikwal
Journalist Abid Hussain Abidi, of Jurm-o-Saza, is shot dead.

December 7, 2020: Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Qais Javed, a journalist with Ehadnama media news, is shot dead in front of his home.

December 23, 2020: Muzaffargarh, Punjab
Malik Nizam Tani, a journalist with daily Roznama, is shot dead by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle as he stood outside his home.

March 18, 2021: Sukkur, Sindh (C)
Ajay Lalwani, a reporter for Royal News TV and Daily Puchano, dies after sustaining three gunshot wounds in an attack in a barber shop.

April 24, 2021: Quetta, Balochistan
Abdul Wahid Raisani, a sub-editor of Daily Azadi is killed after being shot four times by motorcycle assailants in the Bank Colony area of Quetta as he returned home.

July 3, 2020: Pakistan (H)
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority suspends the license of 24NewsHD television channel for two weeks after allegations of broadcasting “hate material” during a religious program. The suspension order is withdrawn after being challenged in court.

September 9, 2020: Pakistan (H)
24NewsHD is suspended by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) following a complaint about broadcasting hate material during its special ‘Muharram 10 transmission’.

October 19, 2020: Pakistan (H)(I)
Pakistani authorities suspend satellite transmission of television channel News24HD after it allegedly airs an opposition party political rally on YouTube.

July 28, 2020: Karachi, Sindh
Paramilitary rangers force their way into the Karachi Press Club to allegedly investigate surveilled prohibited communications in the vicinity.

July 29, 2020: Multan, Punjab
Around 40 armed men barge into the offices of daily Naya Kal, rough up staff, cause injuries to some personnel and ransack the office.

February 21, 2021: Karachi, Sindh
The central offices of the Geo and Jang media group are vandalized by a group of protesters from the Sindhi community, in retaliation over a satirical segment aired on the network.

July 10, 2020: Colombo
Police and inspector Neomal Rangajeewa threatens and obstructs Akila Jayawardene, a photojournalist for Mavubima, outside Colombo High Court.

November 18, 2020: Batticaloa, Eastern Province (A)(C)(I)
Tamil journalist Murukapillai Kokila Daasan, of Battinews.com, is arrested by the Sri Lankan Terrorism Investigation Division for posting pictures of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on a personal Facebook page.

April 12, 2021: Colombo (A)(B)
Freelance journalist Malika Abeykoon, who had been earlier assaulted and arrested by Sri Lankan police on April 7, is placed on remand until April 12.

April 20, 2021: Colombo (A)(I)
Cabinet of Ministers grant their consent to enact laws against the spreading of fake statements and misleading assertions publicised through the internet in Sri Lanka.

March 29, 2021: Jaffna (A)(C)(I)(C)
Web journalists Mugunthan Divanya and Wimal Raj, of Jaffna-based YouTube channel ‘TubeTamil’, are arrested for operating a website and a YouTube channel promoting the LTTE and related terrorism activities.

May 24, 2020: Atulugama, Kalutara (C)
Bimal Shyaman, a journalist with Hiru, Derana and Swarnavahini television, is harassed and assaulted while reporting Eid celebrations.

October 3, 2020: Kumbukkan Oya, Monaragala (C)  
Derana TV journalist Indunil Wijenayake is attacked by sand miners while reporting on illegal sand mining.

October 12, 2020: Murippu, Mullaitivu (C)
Shanmugam Thavaseelan and Kanapathipillai Kumanan, correspondents for the Tamil Guardian, are attacked by timber smugglers while working on a story on illegal deforestation and timber smuggling.