KATHMANDU, June 20: The National Information Commission (NIC) has sent a letter to the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, requesting it to submit the details of the incident where activists were arrested for seeking information. Addressing the DAO Kathmandu, NIC Secretary Hom Prasad Luitel has called for an investigation into the incident and the submission of factual details.
The letter followed the arrest of four activists by the Baudha Police Circle in Gokarneshwar Municipality for seeking information. The National Federation of Right to Information (RTI National Federation) issued a public statement highlighting the arrests and the subsequent filing of various charges against the activists nationwide.
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In a statement issued by RTI National Federation President Umid Bagchand and General Secretary Ajay Kumar Sah, they objected to the narrative that Asmita Khatri, member of the Kathmandu District Working Committee, Adarsh Chhetri, coordinator of the Federation’s Gokarneshwar Nagar Committee, Raju Sunar, and Prem Shrestha, all RTI activists, were arrested simply for demanding information. The RTI National Federation condemned the arrests, stating it is reprehensible to detain individuals for exposing irregularities and corruption.
The four activists were arrested on Monday from different locations within Gokarneshwar Municipality by a team from the Bauddha Police Circle. Deputy Superintendent of Police Raju Pandey of Bauddha Police Circle said the arrests were made based on a warrant from the Kathmandu District Court. The activists have been presented to the District Court via the District Government Attorney’s Office.
The RTI National Federation emphasized that seeking information is a constitutional and legal right of citizens, and arresting activists for such actions is against the rule of law. Bagchand demanded a fair investigation and legal action if any unlawful activities were conducted by the activists while requesting for information. He criticized the justification for the arrests as contrary to legal principles and urged the NIC to conduct an impartial investigation.
The RTI National Federation demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the four arrested individuals. The statement warned that if authorities continue to suppress citizens and prevent them from seeking information by arresting them, the RTI National Federation will be compelled to launch a strong protest.
