Janakpur Today, Radio Today
January 11, 2009, in Janakpur , Nepal
As many as 15 people with knives attacked Uma Singh, a
27-year-old print and radio reporter, in her home in the southeastern district
of Dhanusa, Janakpur zone, near the border with
Local journalists said police ignored Singh's profession as a possible motive for fear of political repercussions, and arrested five people, including her sister-in-law, for killing her over a property dispute.
Property did play a role, according to a report compiled by
press freedom groups that conducted an investigative mission to
"There is no denying that [Singh] may have had a personal stake in the issue of land seizures, but her journalism was exercised in the larger public interest," the report said. After consulting with police, family members, and colleagues, the groups concluded that although there were several overlapping motives and actors involved, her work was a major factor in her death.
In June 2011, defendants Lalita Singh and Nemlal Paswan were each sentenced to life imprisonment in the killing, according to local news reports. Three others accused of carrying out the attack were acquitted. The Federation of Nepali Journalists, a local press freedom group, said the mastermind had not been detained or charged.
Medium: Print, Radio
Job: Broadcast Reporter
Beats Covered: Human Rights, Politics
Gender: Female
Local or Foreign: Local
Freelance: No
Type of Death: Murder
Suspected Source of Fire: Political Group
Impunity: Partial
Taken Captive: No
Tortured: No
Threatened: Yes
Related Articles:
- Two sentenced in Nepal journalist's murder, June 14, 2011
- Second Nepali media owner murdered in a month, March 3, 2010
- Nepal’s media brave threats in 'interesting times', February 19, 2010
- Attacks on the Press 2009: Nepal, February 16, 2010
- CPJ concerned about rise in unpunished attacks in Nepal, February 17, 2009
