Nepal police arrested Nirajan Bam, leader of a youth wing of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, for torching a political leader’s photo today (March 16).

Bam torched a portrait of CPN-Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal during the district convention of the organization in Hetauda on March 15. He set the portrait on fire as a symbolic protest against Dahal’s recent statement. The police arrested Bam from Chitwan and brought to Hetauda.

Freedom Forum’s representative for the province Rammani Lamichhane informed that Bam was released following discussion among police persons and district administration authority in presence of Chief District Officer, Scheme Shrestha.

Freedom Forum is concerned over the incident. “Bam’s act was a form of symbolic protest. His arrest violates the citizens’ right to peaceful  protest,” argued FF’s Chief Executive, Taranath Dahal.