Three including rights activist Ruby Khan detained

KATHMANDU, Oct 4: Three people including human rights activist Ruby Khan have been detained from the southern gate of Singha Durbar on Friday afternoon. A team of officials from the Kathmandu Valley Police Office (KVPO), Ranipokhari, arrested the trio. 

According to the spokesperson of the KVPO, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Binod Ghimire, the three were detained at about 3 pm on Friday for protesting in a restricted area. They have been kept in detention at the Police Circle, Singha Durbar. 

Activists led by Khan have been protesting demanding justice in the case of the disappearance of Nirmala Kurmi. In October 2009, Nirmala’s husband, Mahalu Kurmi, passed away due to natural causes. Following this, Nirmala lived with her two sons, Ramsagar, 18, and Suresh, 14. However, in 2011, both her sons died within a two-week span. Afterward, Badshah Kurmi took Nirmala’s land ownership certificate and citizenship under the pretext of keeping them safe. After that, she was left destitute. Subsequently, a group became active in attempting to seize her house and four bighas of land. Activist Khan alleges that Badshah was the main perpetrator in this group accused of murdering Nirmala and seizing her land.

Badshah was directly elected to the Provincial Assembly from the NC for Banke Constituency No. 3 (2) in the 2022 Provincial Assembly elections. He is also a member of the Constituent Assembly.