FF condemns political pressure to free attackers on rights defender

Freedom Forum has been concerned over the political pressure mounted on the police administration and office of the district attorney to free the persons detained for attacking rights defender and FF executive member Kedar Dahal. An unknown gang had attacked Dahal with khukuri (homemade weapon) near his home at Dakshindholka of Jorpati, Kathmandu, in the evening of March 25, 2013. Following the attack, police arrested six persons, including Kishor Bhattarai, and has been investigating on their murder attempt. It is learnt that the arrested ones belong to the Youth Force, a sister wing of the Communist Party of Nepal-UML, and the Force is now making political pressure to lift the criminal charge on its cadres. Dahal is still in security threat, and his family members are also facing threats by criminal gangs. Freedom Forum condemns the undue pressure and strongly urges the concerned police to carry out fair investigation. Mr Dahal is actively working in the sector of child rights and currently a Secretary of the Child NGO Federation Nepal.