KATHMANDU, July 12: Police have detained 26 people in Biratnagar during a protest against the arrest of Gen Z activist Majid Ansari and others at the Kirtipur Holding Center in Kathmandu.

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The protest followed Friday night's flooding at the Kirtipur Holding Center, where landless families had been sheltered. Ansari and several other youths were detained after they went to assist the flood-affected residents. Ansari was reportedly injured during the police operation.

In response, a group of protesters staged a sit in outside the main gate of the District Police Office in Biratnagar at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.

According to the District Police Office, officers repeatedly asked the demonstrators to disperse, but they refused, obstructed police work, and blocked vehicular traffic, prompting police to take them into custody.

Those detained include Amaresh Mali and Krishna Yadav of Rajbiraj, Saptari, along with Morang residents Mohammad Dil, Rohit Sahani, Mohammad Afroz, Ankit Rajbanshi, Asif Umar, Chand Chahid, Aftab Sheikh, Arman Sheikh, Dipesh Kumar Rai, Rehan Sheikh, Mehbuch Alam, Sarukhan Sharma, Mohammad Taufiq Umar, Asif Sheikh, Sachin Kumar Mandal, Mohammad Jamshed Alam, Aslam Sami, Priyans Kumar Karn, Faran Khan, Amir Jamali, Mohammad Sin Alam, Anjar Khan, and Saki Alam.

Police said all 26 detainees have been placed in custody, and further investigation is underway.