Birendra Shah ( ne, बीरेन्द्र शाह) (Unknown – November 8, 2007) was a print and broadcast journalist for the Nepal FM, ''Dristi Weekly'', and Avenues TV in Bara, Nepal. Shah was kidnapped October 4/5, 2007, by Communist Party of Nepal Maoists from Pipara Bazaar, Kalaiya, Bara, Nepal, and found dead one month later. The CPN(M) later issued a statement confirming his death.

Personal

Married to Umarawati Devi with two children.

Death

Shah was kidnapped after exposing the Maoists and connections to illegal logging deals. Three members of the Maoists abducted Shah, took him to a forest, and then shot him to death same day he was kidnapped.

Context

Shah exposed illegal logging deals related to the Maoists. Before his death, he had written several reports about the Maoists which resulted in many threats from the party. They abducted and killed him the same day in a forest and threw his body in a swampy forest. Members of Maoist first denied the abduction and killing of the journalist but then after a month admitted to the killing. The abduction and killing was part of a "personal vendetta".

Impact

Shah has been given a television journalism award in his memory from Avenues Television production.

Reactions

His death drew criticism from several

press freedom Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exerci ...

organizations, including

Reporters Without Borders Reporters Without Borders (RWB; french: Reporters sans frontières; RSF) is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization with the stated aim of safeguarding the right to freedom of information. It describes its advocacy as found ...

, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the

International Federation of Journalists The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is the largest global union federation of journalists' trade unions in the world. It represents more than 600,000 media workers from 187 organisations in 146 countries. The IFJ is an associate ...

. There were multiple calls for justice and a nationwide protest. More than a month after the killing, Maoist Deputy Commander Janardan Sharma Prabhakar apologized on behalf of his party, which had previously claimed innocence.

References