Freedom Forum is concerned over detention of youths from Tundikhel, Kathmandu for chanting against the Prime Minister and senior leaders on August 27.

Gopikrishna Jaisi, Dipak Thagunna and Ram Bahadur Budha were arrested for sloganeering against the leaders at Gaura festival celebration event held on August 26 in Tundikhel. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, President of Nepali Congress party Sher Bahadur Deuba, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister of Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi and Minister of Industry Damodar Bhandari were present in the event.

Superintendent of Police at District Police Office, Kathmandu Navaraj Adhikari informed Freedom Forum that they were detained for inquiry on the case. On August 28, the District Administration Office, Kathmandu ordered the police to keep them in police custody and investigate for offense against public peace. According to the order, Jaisi and Thagunna should be kept in police custody for nine days and Budha for five days.

Later on August 30, they were released after paying security deposit amount Rs. 9000 each.

In another incident, two youths were briefly taken under control in Dhangadhi for their critical social media post. Prateek Joshi and Rachit Shah were kept in detention for around six hours at District Police Office and later released after signing a letter stating that they will not share such critical posts on their social media pages.

On this, Executive Chief at FF states, “Protests and criticisms against the government in a democratic country are normal. Arresting and detaining citizens merely for protesting against government and leaders is a sheer violation of their freedom of expression and right to peaceful protest.” “This act is a severe misuse of the state’s position and power”, Dahal argues.

FF strongly demanded the concerned authority to immediately and unconditionally release both Jaisi and Budha and ensure citizen’s right to freedom of expression and speech. Such undemocratic act of the government should stop right away.

For more,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np