As the nation celebrates 66th Democracy Day, Nepal Police have arrested a dozen rights defenders and activists for staging a protest at Old Bus Park on Friday. A group of rights defenders staged a protest in front of the Sainik Manch to draw the attention of the government towards the plight of Ganga Maya Adhikar, 56, who has been seeking justice for her son Krishna Prasad Adhikari for the past 10 years. She has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Gangalal Hospital. Police rounded them up stating the area is a restricted zone.

The arrestees include chairperson of Amnesty International Surya Bhadur Adhikari, senior rights activist Kanak Mani Dixit, Charan Prasai, Sabitri Shrestha, Ram Bhandari, Bikas Basnet, Janak Raut, Bikdram Dhukuchu, Rasahana Dhakal, Ashok Joshi, Mahamuniswor Acharya, and Bikram Chaudhary. "We were staging a peaceful protest to highlight the current situation of Ganga Maya," said Charan Prasai, adding, "The government simply can not turn a blind eye to her plight." Ganga Maya has been suffering from DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) on the left leg for the last three years, and the condition was seen on her right leg as well. She has been surviving on liquid food even after she ended her year-long hunger strike in October last year. She ended her strike after the government assurance of arresting the culprit of her son. Krishna Prasad,18, was abducted and killed in June 2004 in Chitwan by the then rebel Maoist. Ganga Maya and her husband Nanda Prasad were on fast-unto-death demanding that her son’s killer(s) be brought to book. Nanda Prasad died in September 2014. The protesters have been detained at the Metropolitan Police Circle in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.