The Federation of Nepalese Journalists has demanded that a high-level independent investigation committee should be formed to investigate the mysterious murder of journalist Suresh Rajak and find out the truth.

A team led by Acting President of the Federation, Deepak Acharya, met the Minister of Home Affairs, Ramesh Akhtar, at the ministry on Monday and submitted the report of the study committee formed regarding the killing of journalists and attacks on journalists and media on 15th Chaitra in Tinkune, Kathmandu, and told them not to hesitate to form a high-level independent investigation committee.

Federation has demanded that journalist Rajak, who was killed in the workplace, should be declared a martyr and social security of his family should be ensured. 

Journalist Rajak is not an agitator, he is a hard-working journalist at the workplace. He lost his life while working. Therefore, the government should treat the journalist Rajak differently from the protestors,' the federation said, 'The government should declare Rajak a martyr and take the responsibility of his family's safety and dignified relief.'

Federation has demanded that the media houses that suffered damages due to vandalism during the demonstration in Tinkune should be given proper compensation and security of the media houses should be ensured so that they can work in a fear-free environment. Similarly, the federation has also demanded the formation of a suggestion committee with senior journalists and experts for the necessary policy and legal reforms to solve and manage the increasing incidents of press freedom violations, the latest challenges seen in the communication sector. 

"They should monitor whether the provisions related to physical, professional and social security of journalists are implemented and ensure that they are implemented, and demand strict action against media houses that do not implement them," the federation said.  The

federation has also demanded that a separate law be formulated and implemented to deal with incidents related to press freedom. "When making laws related to the press, press-friendly laws should be made keeping in mind the constitutional provisions on full press and freedom of expression," the federation said. 

The federation has demanded that the social media and media council bills that are currently under discussion in the parliament should be moved forward according to the suggestions of stakeholders including the federation. Similarly, a policy on the physical security of journalists should be formulated and implemented,  Timely amendments to the Working Journalists Act, raising the minimum wage of journalists and monitoring the implementation of the law should be strictly implemented and the government is currently providing accident insurance for journalists, so the provision is not sufficient and effective. Instead, media houses have demanded a policy arrangement to obligate journalists to join the social security fund. 

Understanding the report of the federation, the Home Minister said that he would study the report of the federation and take initiatives for its implementation. He said that the government is seriously investigating the murder of journalist Rajak and said that the process of action against the culprits of the incident will be initiated according to the criminal law.