Updated on Monday, January 19, 2009, 00:00 IST

Kathmandu, Jan 19: An umbrella body of Nepalese mediapersons on Monday stepped up pressure on the government to "punish the culprits" involved in the murder of a woman journalist as it announced fresh agitation to highlight the growing insecurity among scribes in the country.

Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella organisation of Nepalese journalists, announced launching of a week long agitation beginning tomorrow to protest the killing of 26-yeal old woman journalist, Uma Singh.

She was hacked to death by an armed gang last week at Janakpur in Terai. Maoists' hand was suspected in the killing as her brother and father were killed by the Maoists two years ago after abduction.

"We have published protest programme from January 20 to January 26 to press the Maoist government to take stern action against those involved in the murder of journalists including woman scribe Singh and to create violence free atmosphere for Nepalese journalists," FNJ general secretary Poshan K C said.

"Although the government has arrested two people including a Maoist cadre for their suspected involvement in the murder, we were not totally convinced that the government would punish the culprits," he said.

The programme includes tying black band while at work for one week by all scribes, broadcasting picture of slain journalist Singh in all television channels, organising protest rallies across the country and publishing editorials condemning the killings, he said.

"We want the government to arrest all the culprits involved in the murder of journalists in the recent time," he said. At least five journalists were killed within the past two and half year period after the Maoists came to peace process by officially shunning path of violence.

Bureau Report