2025 has been a challenging year for the Nepali press. According to a report released by the Federation of Nepali Journalists on Wednesday, incidents of press freedom violations have increased almost threefold in 2025 compared to 2024.

According to the records of the Federation's Media Monitoring Unit, 139 incidents of press freedom violations were registered in 2025. 218 journalists and media personnel and 31 media houses were directly affected by these incidents. In the previous year (2024), only 60 such incidents were recorded and in 2023, only 58 such incidents were recorded.

'Suspicious' deaths of two journalists

The report shows that journalists have faced extreme risks while reporting this year. This year alone, 5 journalists were injured by bullets while reporting. Two journalists lost their lives.

On Chaitra 15, Avenues Television journalist Suresh Rajak was burnt to death while reporting on the protests in Tinkune. Similarly, Gorkha journalist Ajay Gorkhali died. The Federation has called this death 'mysterious'. The press release released by the Federation states, ‘The death of journalist Ajay Gorkhali and the subsequent photos, videos and eyewitness accounts suggest that his death is also shrouded in mystery,’ the Chitwan branch of the Federation has stated.’ Five journalists were shot and injured during the ‘Gen-G’ movement on Bhadra 23 and 24 and the subsequent violent incidents. According to the Federation, arson and vandalism were committed during the movement. The ‘Gen-G’ movement in Bhadra was the darkest period in terms of press freedom. During the movement alone, there were 26 incidents of press freedom violations, and more than 100 journalists and media houses were affected.

The media sector was hurt by the destruction that took place during the demonstration.

Gen-G protests saw various media houses including Kantipur Publications, Annapurna Post, Thaha Khabar, Public Service Broadcasting (Radio Nepal and Nepal Television), Radio Jagran in Butwal, Nepalvani FM in Ilam and Ilam Express, and the Federation's branch office in Saptari being arsoned, looted, and vandalized. According to the Federation, the incidents have caused damage worth about Rs 600 million to institutional assets and Rs 180 million to the private property of journalists and media entrepreneurs.

Censorship and social media ban

The Federation's statement states that the government has taken drastic steps to curtail freedom of the press and expression this year along with political instability. The government has amended the Printing Press and Publication Act, 2048 BS and brought in strict provisions and has made an 'undemocratic' decision to shut down 26 popular social media sites in Nepal, including Facebook,