The Federation of Nepali Journalists, the Photojournalists’ Club and the Online Journalists’ Association have denounced the attack on a journalist by Nepal Police while covering a protest programme in Singha Durbar on Sunday.

Photojournalist Kabin Adhikari of Onlinekhabar.com was beaten by police while he was taking pictures of police brutality against the protesters, the FNJ said in a statement.

Civil servants were staging a protest at the Ministry of General Administration against the elections for an official trade union slated for later this month.

FNJ General Secretary Ujir Magar, terming the high handedness an attack on press freedom and freedom of expression, demanded action against the guilty. PJ Club General Secretary Bikas Karki said police ganged up against the journalist despite his showing identity card and camera.

Adhikari said he was taking pictures of policemen thrashing the protesters and was asked not to capture the move.

But when he said it was his job to report the incident, police turned on him.

Ten protesting civil servants were arrested. The trade unionists had been demonstrating in the Chief Election Officer’s chamber, vandalising office windows and a police van, police said.

The government is holding an election to select an official trade union of the civil servants on April 22.