Kathmandu – Nepal journalist detentions on Friday drew criticism from media organisations and political parties, with all three journalists released later that evening. Differing explanations from police and the prime minister’s secretariat have raised questions about how the operation began.
Those detained were Bishwamani Subedi of Nepal Press, Shobhraj Baral of Motivate News and Dhiraj Basnet of DNA Khabar. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Bikram Timilsina confirmed their release and said the government remained committed to press freedom.
Federation representatives and other journalists went to the Cyber Bureau to seek their release. According to Naya Patrika, the three were freed following widespread objections to the police action.
Police also visited Naya Patrika’s office seeking journalist Nawaraj Mainali. In its account, the newspaper said plainclothes officers entered without management’s permission or presenting an arrest warrant and remained for about two and a half hours.
Naya Patrika reported that officers searched the newsroom while armed police stood outside the building. Its staff described the visit as intimidating and disruptive. Police also visited Diyopost’s office but left without taking a journalist into custody.
Nepal Police spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle subsequently said the Cyber Bureau had called some journalists for information about reports concerning the police. He said the bureau acted following concerns raised by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mr. Kafle’s statement described the purpose as checking the accuracy, factual basis and legal grounds of material circulated through news outlets and social media. Police argued that misleading information could affect public trust, investigations and relations between the government and the police organisation.
The prime minister’s secretariat gave a different account. Media management coordinator Deepa Dahal said neither the prime minister, his secretariat nor his office had been involved in the detentions or received advance information about them.
Ms. Dahal said the prime minister instructed the authorities to release the journalists immediately after learning of the incident. She also said he directed them not to enter newsrooms to detain journalists.
The Federation of Nepali Journalists condemned the operation, while Press Council Nepal called for police to disclose its legal basis. The council said entering newsrooms to take journalists into custody raised serious concerns about press freedom and professional safety.
On Saturday morning, the federation held a demonstration at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu against the detentions and police intervention in newsrooms. Its central committee had called the protest after an emergency meeting on Friday evening.
Federation office-bearers, journalists and supporters of press and freedom of expression joined the demonstration. According to Naya Patrika, the protest continued despite the rain.
The journalists’ release ended their detention, but questions remain about who authorised the operation and why newsroom visits were necessary. A clear account of the decisions behind Friday’s events would help address the conflicting official explanations.
