Thirty-two-year-old Krishna Bahadur Tamang, editor of Mongol Vision Weekly and resident of Gupteshwor-6 in Ramechhap, was paraded in front of the media by organising a press conference at the District Police Office in Kaski on Tuesday.

Under the false name of Asmita Burma, Tamang had written a news story claiming the involvement of Chhiring Lama of Topgachi, Jhapa, in the robbery of Mega Saving & Credit Cooperative at New Road in Pokhara at gunpoint. The story with photo of Lama was published by weekly tabloids based in Kathmandu and other places last week.

Tamang, who has completed his Master’s degree in journalism, was also found to have created fake Facebook and email accounts under the false name.

Police said the victim was not involved in the aforementioned robbery that took place about four months back and that she has been the subject of character assassination by Tamang.

“Tamang had helped the victim find a job at Panchakanya Training Institute in Pokhara using his connections,” Superintendent of Police Basanta Kumar Lama said at the press meet, adding, “After helping her secure the job, Tamang had put the girl under constant pressure to accept his marriage proposal. But as she rejected his advances, Tamang threatened to publicly humiliate and defame her and ultimately went on to publish the misleading and fictitious news story for the purpose.”

SP Lama said it has become clear that the misleading story was published just for the purpose of blackmailing the victim.

After the victim lodged a complaint against Tamang, police arrested the accused

in Pokhara.

“We are carrying out further investigation into the case,” Kaski Police spokesperson DSP Kedar Rajaure said. Police said they will initiate a case against Tamang under the Public Offence Act.

“I wrote the misleading news and published it in various newspapers in a fit of rage after she (Chhiring) refused to accept my marriage proposal,” Tamang said, “I regret doing such a thing that has caused her so much trouble.”