KATHMANDU, June 29: Police have arrested a landless man living at a holding centre in Kirtipur for allegedly making violent and threatening remarks on social media, including a threat to enter Singha Durbar carrying a khukuri.
Dambar Bahadur Tamang, 39, of Arun Rural Municipality in Bhojpur, has been taken into custody on charges of offences against public peace, according to Kathmandu District Police spokesperson SP Pawan Bhattarai.
Applications of 1.2 million landless people collected
Police said Tamang is under investigation by the Singha Durbar Police Circle after a video of his interview circulated widely on social media.
In the interview, Tamang allegedly warned that if the government's response to the landless community's demands was not satisfactory, he would resort to violence and enter Singha Durbar with a khukuri if necessary.
He had also rejected the government's offer of Rs 25,000 in relief for families leaving the settlement, demanding instead land and a house in Kathmandu along with Rs 800,000 in cash. He allegedly threatened to attack anyone attempting to evict him if those demands were not met.
Police said Tamang remains in custody while further investigation is underway. Meanwhile, organisations representing landless people have demanded his immediate release.
