A team of journalists on January 12 has drawn the attention of the district administration office (DAO) regarding the threat on INSEC representative issued by the district chairperson of Khambuwan Rastriya Morcha (KRM) PK Khambu.

Khambu had threatened INSEC Khotang representative Saindra Rai for phoning DSP Basanta Bahadur Thapa in course of writing news on the beating of Sidhhaman Rai, teacher of Sungdel-based Chandra Primary School by the KRM. Saying that DSP Thapa had informed him about the phone call, Khambu threatened Rai.

The team led by Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Khotang chapter had verbally drawn the attention of CDO Shivaram Gelal on the Khambuwan's conduct. The group expressed concern over the extortion drive, beatings of civilians, and threat to journalists over news by KRM.

Khambuwan had threatened FNJ Khotang acting chairperson and news coordinator of Rupakot Radio Daman Rai on December 14, news coordinator of Halesi FM Ujir Karki on December 27, district reporter of Avenues TV Haribol Acharya on December 30, district correspondent of Gorkhapatra daily DM Chamling on December 29 and district correspondent of Annapurna Post Dilip Khatri on December 14 over various news. The group had also threatened to vandalize the office of Halesi weekly after the newspaper published news on extortion drive by Khambuwan on December 30.

CDO Gelal expressed commitment to find a way out by holding further discussions. Meanwhile, the journalists have prepared to launch protest programs.