A fact-finding committee formed by the Federation of Nepali Journalists has started its work to investigate the death of video journalist Suresh Rajak during the pro-monarchy riots on Friday.

An emergency central committee meeting of the FNJ on Saturday formed the seven-member team under the leadership of Umid Bagchand, a vice-chair of the FNJ. Other members of the study panel are Ramesh Khatiwada, Soni Sharma, Prakash Dhaulakoti, Baikuntha Raj Parajuli, Sabin Priyasan and Ashok Tiwari.

The panel has been entrusted with investigating the issue after meeting Rajak’s family members and the officials from the media organisation he was working at, among other stakeholders, and submitting a report to the FNJ’s executive committee.

On Friday, Rajak was found dead inside a building that was set on fire. Rajak was filming the pro-monarchy demonstrations from the Tinkune-based building. He was working as a video journalist at the Avenues Television in Kathmandu.

“We have already started our work,” FNJ Secretary Dhaulakoti told the Post.

Meanwhile, the FNJ has launched protests across the country demanding justice for the deceased journalist.

FNJ chapters in all the 77 districts staged demonstrations on Saturday and journalists wore black armbands while working at their newsrooms on Sunday as a protest.

The journalists’ umbrella body has planned to submit letters to federal and provincial home ministers demanding reparation to the deceased family, free treatment of the journalists who sustained injuries during the protest, guarantee of press freedom and safety of mediapersons.

The central body of the FNJ held a rally against the attacks on journalists and media houses on Saturday morning. The pro-monarchy protesters attacked Tinkune-based Kantipur Television and Annapurna Media Network during Friday’s protest. They set fire to private houses and vehicles and looted shops including Bhatbhateni Supermarket.