Prasai confined to his Thimi house, supporters detained

In an unexpected move on Friday, the government intervened to halt the activities of the ‘Campaign to protect nation, nationalism, religion, culture and citizens,’ led by the controversial businessman Durga Prasai, preventing them from organizing and protesting in Kathmandu. The government’s argument was rooted in the absence of the necessary permit for such activities.

After a demonstration held in the Balkhu area on Thursday, the Prasai-led group declared their intention to continue protests around the Tinkune area starting Friday. However, the District Administration Office in Kathmandu countered, asserting that the group lacked the required permit to protest in a public space. Any attempts at staging protests without permission, the administration warned, would be met with legal actions.

Rabindra Prasad Acharya, assistant chief district officer in Kathmandu, issued a statement emphasizing, “Certain areas will be allotted for protests if the organizer, after coordination with security agencies, seeks permission to stage peaceful protests.”

During Thursday’s demonstrations, the local administration had designated Balkhu for Prasai’s organization and the Tinkune area for the CPN-UML’s youth wing National Youth Federation Nepal.

Despite the administration’s warning, Prasai remained resolute in continuing his protests, prompting the deployment of a significant number of security personnel across the Kathmandu Valley to prevent the planned demonstrations. A police contingent reached Prasai’s residence in Thimi at Bhaktapur on Friday morning, enforcing his confinement throughout the day.

In response to the protests, police carried out indiscriminate arrests of suspected protesters, even detaining some bystanders passing through the Tinkune area under suspicion of involvement. Superintendent of Police Kumud Dhungel, spokesperson for the District Police Range Kathmandu, reported, “We rounded up over 210 protesters who violated the restrictions imposed by the district administration office. We are screening the detainees to decide whom to release and whom not.”

Despite allegations, the police denied having arrested passersby.

Conducting a press meet later in the day at his home, Prasai accused the government of placing him under house arrest to suppress his advocacy for the poor. “I don’t fear arrest. I am even ready to sacrifice my life in the fight for the poor’s welfare,” he declared, accusing the government of violating the right to peaceful protest.

A habeas corpus writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court on Friday, claiming the government’s unconstitutional imposition of house arrest on Prasai.

However, the Bhaktapur administration refuted the claim of house arrest. Roshani Kumari Shrestha, the chief district officer in Bhaktapur, stated that Prasai was free to hold protests with permission from the administration. “We are only obstructing his defiance of the prohibitory orders,” she clarified. “The government respects the right to peaceful protests.”

As per the Local Administration Act, prior permission is mandatory for staging any kind of demonstration or gathering. Starting this year, Prasai has resorted to various forms of protest, aiming to overthrow the present system of governance and reinstate monarchy and Nepal as a Hindu state.

Following the restrictions imposed on Friday, Prasai called upon his supporters nationwide to initiate demonstrations in all 77 districts starting Saturday. In a statement, the campaign condemned the government for hindering the protest and alleged the use of excessive force against protesters on Thursday. They asserted that the government’s actions, including the arrest of campaigners like Shahi Yuwa Sangh convenor Pashupati Khadka on Friday, would only fuel new revolutions. “Such suppression and brutality sow the seeds of new revolutions. The brutality has only strengthened our campaign,” the statement read. “In retaliation for police oppression, we appeal to one and all to start protests in all 77 districts.”