Activist Alleges Police Detention Over Criticism of Government and Border Issues

Smriti Timalsina, coordinator of Gen-Z Redforce, stated that the police detained her in an insulting manner based on her criticism of the government and her expression of views on social media.

Providing information about her arrest, she mentioned that she was held in police custody for approximately four hours. She also accused the government of attempting to curb freedom of expression.

'The police detained me for criticizing the government and speaking about the border blockade with China. They treated me like a criminal,' she said on Tuesday, 'The police spoke to me in a threatening manner, saying I cannot criticize the government without permission from the Ministry of Information and Communications.'

According to her, the police pressured her into signing a document, warning her not to speak or write against the government in the future. 'I was only released after signing a pledge not to speak again,' she said.

She stated that she wrote about the Tatopani border crossing being closed because Harka Sampang, the chairman of the Labor Culture Party, had also written about it. 'I expressed my opinion by referencing the context where individuals like Harka Sampang also spoke about the border and the government,' she said, 'If I am arrested based on that, then Harka Sampang should be arrested first. I spoke about what I saw and experienced. If speaking the truth leads to arrest, then this is a mockery of democracy.'

After being released from police custody, she stated that the incident made her more aware and that she will continue to oppose the government's wrongdoings based on facts in the coming days.