BUTWAL: Two people, including Akram Khan, coordinator of the ‘Lumbini Bachau Mahaabhiyan’, have been arrested amid protests demanding the cancellation of the appointment of Ani Choing Dolma as vice-chairperson of the Lumbini Development Trust.
Police arrested Khan, 61, and Babiuddin Musalman, 33, of Ward No. 9 of Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality from their residence in Parsa Chowk, Lumbini, while they were sleeping last night, according to Ram Bikas Chaudhary, co-coordinator of the campaign.
The campaign has demanded the unconditional release of both men, alleging that they were arrested at midnight for peacefully protesting against Dolma’s appointment.
The District Police Office, Rupandehi, confirmed the arrests, saying the two had been detained for investigation on charges of engaging in disorderly activities in a public place. They are being held at the District Police Office in Bhairahawa, police said.
The Lumbini Bachau Mahaabhiyan has been staging phased protests, demanding the cancellation of Dolma’s appointment and the selection of a qualified local candidate for the position.
As part of the campaign, protesters burned an effigy of Culture and Tourism Minister Ganesh Poudel at Parsa Chowk on Monday afternoon.
Several groups and individuals, including the Kapilvastu Tilaurakot Sangharsha Samiti, Lumbini-based provincial lawmaker and former minister Chandrakesh Gupta, senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi and the National Genji Citizens’ Movement, have also opposed Dolma’s appointment.
The protesters have questioned the appointment process, alleging that Dolma had not applied for the position of vice-chairperson of the trust. They have also raised questions about her acquisition of Nepali citizenship by descent and the legality and transparency of funds amounting to crores of rupees that she is reportedly said to have received from Hong Kong.
The groups have called for a fair investigation into the allegations, maintaining that the appointment should be reconsidered based on the findings.