( CNN ) -- A Nepalese journalist who reported on women 's rights and wrote several articles criticizing the dowry system was hacked to death in her room , a media rights group said Monday . A Nepalese journalist takes part in a protest last month demanding more freedom for the press . The killing of Uma Singh , 26 , is part of a growing and troubling pattern of violence directed at reporters in the South Asian country , the Federation of Nepalese Journalists said . In protest , journalists throughout Nepal are expected to stage demonstrations Tuesday , calling on the government to ensure their safety . `` If the government is not ready to provide any kind of security to journalists , it will be very difficult to do journalism in a free mode , '' said Dharmendra Jha , president of the federation . Singh wrote for a daily newspaper and reported for a radio station in Janakpur , about 240 km ( 150 miles ) southeast of the capital city of Katmandu . When she got home from work Sunday night , a group of about 15 men barged into the room she rented at a house and hacked her with sharp objects in full view of other boarders , Jha said . `` I am very very shocked , '' said Jha , who arrived in Janakpur Monday to probe the killing . `` She was my student and I brought her into active journalism . '' Authorities do not have a motive for the killing . In some of her articles , Singh spoke out against the dowry system , where a bride 's family is forced to give cash and property to the groom 's family before the wedding . Also Sunday , a group of men ransacked the house of another journalist , leaving a cross on her door and telling her it was her turn next , media groups said . Police do not know if the two incidents are related . In recent months , the number of attacks on journalists in Nepal has shot up . The federation released a year-end report , recording 284 incidents -- including three deaths and a kidnapping . The incidents also include shutting down media outlets , burning copies of magazines and beatings . Some of the assailants have ties to the Communist Party of Nepal , the largest party in Nepal 's coalition government , according to New York-based Human Rights Watch . The party is led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal , or Prachanda -- a man who led a decade-long bloody insurgency before being sworn in as prime minister . During the decade-long civil war , Maoist forces under him carried out numerous attacks on journalists they believed were opposed to their cause , Human Rights Watch said . And after he became prime minister , Prachanda issued a public warning to journalists while addressing a massive crowd in Katmandu : `` Now we will no longer tolerate criticism as we have already been elected by the people . '' `` The problem we 're facing is the problem of impunity , '' Jha said . `` There are many armed groups in plain sight . The government has to hold them accountable . Otherwise , we are not safe . ''
Nepalese journalist who reported on women 's rights is hacked to death . Comment: Journalists throughout Nepal expected to stage demonstrations Tuesday .