Editorial | State coercion under Shah government must stop
Summary
Police and state agencies are accused of arbitrary detentions, intimidation, and coercive tactics against a former chief justice, a political analyst, a government secretary, and youth activists. The editorial warns that the Shah government is drifting away from constitutional due process and calls for an end to state coercion.
Key Points
- Police allegedly detained former Chief Justice Cholendra SJB Rana without a warrant or clear charge and blocked human rights monitors from observing the case.
- Political analyst Bharat Dahal and government secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar were also detained or interrogated in ways the editorial says bypassed normal legal procedures.
- The article says police used informal custody and pressure tactics against youth activists in Kirtipur, including Majid Ansari, after they questioned flood relief management.
- The editorial urges the Shah government to stop arbitrary detentions, respect written warrants and legal counsel, and protect free expression and peaceful dissent.
