A peaceful protest was held at Ramananda Chowk in Janakpurdham and on the East-West Highway at Dhalkebar on July 12, organized by the Gen Z Movement Alliance Madhesh Province, to protest the assault and arrest of Gen Z activists Majid Ansari, 27, Monika Niroula, 25, Riya Baniya, 23, and Sarisma Thapa, 25. The activists were allegedly beaten and arrested by police on July 11while visiting the Radhaswami Holding Centre in Kirtipur to assess the condition of flood-displaced landless squatters.
Activists alleged that police had beaten Majid Ansari during his arrest, leaving him injured. Ansari is currently receiving treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj.
Mohammad Nayeem Rain, a representative of the Gen Z Movement Alliance Madhesh Province, stated that attempts to suppress citizens’ voices in a democratic system are unacceptable. He said the crackdown on young people participating in a peaceful protest contradicts the spirit of the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and other fundamental civil liberties.
The demonstrators called on the concerned authorities to ensure an environment where citizens can peacefully assemble, freely express their views, and enjoy the full protection of their human rights.