A Nepali journalist who has been critical of China has been found dead. According to Nepal police, the man’s body was found from the banks of Bagmati river in Mandu. The journalist is well know to have reported in an article on Chinese encroachment in Rui Village and thus finding him dead has it all say the matter. Such criticisms from Nepal citizens are never well taken!
Balalram Baniya, the 50 year old Nepali journalist’s body was recovered from the bank of Bagmati River. Family members of the deceased filed a missing complaint following which a manhunt was launched by the police. A team deployed from Area Police Office in Bhimphedi fished out his body from the river and sent it to Hetauda Hospital.
According to the local reports, Baniya was last seen walking along the banks of Balkhu river by witnesses and his mobile location have shown the same before it was switched off.
The Nepali Journalist was associated with Kantipur Daily, a Nepali newspaper, since the paper’s initial days. He used to cover politics and parliament and later did extensive reporting on governance and bureaucracy according to the Kathmandu Post. He reportedly wrote an article highlighting the Chinese encroachment in Rui village located in Gorkha district.
Chinese influence in Nepal has been very visible both in the political arena and economic activities. Recently, a controversial political map passed by Nepal strained its ties with India by claiming certain areas claimed by India. Despite sharing cordial relationship with India, such actions by Nepal have been seen as an orchestration of Chinese influence.
Last year a Nepali MP was suspended by the party for participating in an international Tibet conference in Europe. The lawmaker from was brought into scrutiny after Chinese embassy in Kathmandu had issued complaints to the government on his participation in a Tibet conference in Europe.