Suspicious Vehicles Block Media
Kathmandu police investigate suspicious vehicles blocking major media offices, raising security concerns.
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Police removed several vehicles outside Kantipur Publications in Tinkune, Onlinekhabar in New Baneshwor, Himalayan Television in Mid-Baneshwor, and Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Anamnagar, including a Kantipur gate vehicle towed by crane. Notable registration details: Ba. Pra. 01-034 Cha 8480 (Sanima Bank), Ba.10 Cha 1255 (Subash Bhandari), and Ba.12 Cha 8545 (Sunil Poudel).
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A delegation led by FNJ President Nirmala Sharma visited Onlinekhabar and the other affected media houses, with the federation calling the incident suspicious and seemingly premeditated and urging the government to act to safeguard press freedom and access to work.
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Privately registered cars were left at the entrances of Onlinekhabar (Buddhanagar) and Himalaya Television (Baneshwor), and Kantipur Media Group (Thapathali), with driver identities not established and authorities seeking to remove the vehicles and investigate the motives.
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Police statements indicate the incidents involve three media sites with cars parked derelict and some without keys; investigators are conducting technical checks and reviewing CCTV footage to identify who left the vehicles and why, with SP Pawan Bhattarai confirming the broader security operation.
Police in Kathmandu are investigating a wave of suspicious vehicles abandoned outside major media offices early one morning, blocking journalists from entering their workplaces. Affected outlets include Kantipur Publications in Tinkune, Onlinekhabar in New Baneshwor, Himalaya Television in Mid-Baneshwor, and Kantipur Media Group in Thapathali, according to Ratopati and Nepal News.
Some vehicles were left without keys, making them hard to move quickly. Police used a crane to tow at least one car from the Kantipur gate. Officers are now reviewing CCTV footage to find who left the vehicles and why.
Vehicles Blocked Gates at Four Kathmandu Media Sites
Cars were found parked in ways that blocked entry and exit at three media offices and a Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Anamnagar, according to Nepal News. Registration records identified one car linked to Sanima Bank (Ba. Pra. 01-034 Cha 8480), one to Subash Bhandari (Ba.10 Cha 1255), and one to Sunil Poudel (Ba.12 Cha 8545). None of the drivers were at the scene.
Separately, a car with plate number BAC 9575 was found parked outside the home of Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa in Ratopul, Ratopati reported. Police opened an inquiry into that incident as well, noting its similarities to the media office cases.
Press Freedom Groups Call the Incidents Premeditated
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) condemned the parkings as suspicious and seemingly premeditated. FNJ President Nirmala Sharma led a delegation to Onlinekhabar and other affected media houses. The group called on the government to act fast to protect press freedom and ensure journalists can reach work safely, according to Farsight Nepal.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) also raised alarm. The party called for an immediate investigation into the incidents, saying the pattern of coordinated parkings raised serious questions about intent, Ratopati reported. No political group has been officially named as responsible.
Police Pursue CCTV Evidence to Find Motive
SP Pawan Bhattarai confirmed that police are running a broad security operation across the affected sites. Officers are conducting technical checks and going through CCTV footage from nearby cameras to identify who left the vehicles. So far, no group has been officially linked to the incidents, according to Ratopati.
Investigators are also looking into whether the cases are connected. The vehicles were all left in the early morning, and none had drivers present when discovered. Police say they are pursuing all leads to establish whether the synchronized parkings share a common motive, Nepal News reported.
Traffic Disrupted as Authorities Scramble to Clear Roads
The abandoned cars caused immediate traffic disruption outside several media buildings in central Kathmandu. At least one vehicle required a crane to remove from the Kantipur Publications gate in Tinkune. Authorities worked to clear all sites quickly to restore normal access, according to Nepal News.
The incidents have put Kathmandu's media community on edge. Journalists arriving for work found their offices blocked, while police scrambled to assess whether the situation posed any direct physical threat. No explosives or dangerous materials were reported inside any of the vehicles, Farsight Nepal noted.
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