J B Punamagar, the Butawal-based reporter of Himal Khabarpatrika, was abducted by a group of Maoists while he was reporting in Kapilvastu district, according to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ).
The abduction comes a day after the government of King Gyanendra detained, and released a few hour later, the editor and publisher of Himal Khabarpatrika, Kanak Dixit for criticising the royal takeover.
The FNJ has urged both the government and Maoists not to target journalists, release all those who were arrested or abducted and guarantee press freedom, a statement from the federation said.
