KATHMANDU, April 23: Nepal Tarun Dal (NTD), the youth wing of the main opposition Nepali Congress, on Thursday demanded the immediate release of former government secretary Bhim Upadhayay.

On Wednesday, the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police arrested Upadhayay on the charge of spreading false information through social media.

Upadhayay's arrest comes two weeks after he accused the incumbent health secretary Yadav Koirala of indulging into corruption in the purchase of medical equipment. Upadhayay and Koirala had exchanged heated jabs on Twitter after the incident.

Expressing serious concern over the detention of Upadhayay in a press statement, NTD said the incident is against the principle of freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution.

"The government is infringing upon the fundamental rights of the people such as freedom of expression at a time when we are observing the Democracy Day," president of the organization, Jit Jung Basnet, said in the statement. He demanded the unconditional release of the former bureaucrat.

"We also came to know that some of the leaders of the opposition parties have been kidnapped and kept in a hotel in Kathmandu since Wednesday. This is very disappointing and condemnable act of the government. We urge the government not to repeat such acts in coming days. Otherwise, we will be forced to wage movement against the government," read the press release.

 
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