Police have released Akram Khan, coordinator of the Save Lumbini Campaign, who was arrested on Monday evening.
Khan was detained over the burning of an effigy of Tourism Minister Khadak Raj Paudel (Ganess) during protests against the government’s decision to appoint singer and Buddhist nun Ani Choying Drolma as vice-chairperson of the Lumbini Development Trust.
Khan said that he was taken into custody at night and released in the morning following discussions with police officials.
Police had also arrested another campaigner, Wajiuddin Musalman, along with Khan on charges of engaging in disorderly activities in a public place and disturbing public peace and order. Musalman has also been released.
According to Khan, police detained him around 10:30 p.m. on Monday at Parsa Chowk in Lumbini while he was heading toward a hotel.
Khan is the elder brother of former Lumbini Provincial Assembly member Fakruddin Khan, who recently left the Nepali Congress to join the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
Police released Khan on Tuesday afternoon, handing him over to his younger brother, Fakruddin Khan, in the presence of RSP lawmakers Kanhaiya Baniya and Taufiq Ahmad Khan.
Following discussions at the District Police Office, the two campaigners were released after agreeing to present their demands peacefully without obstructing roads or burning effigies in the Lumbini area.
After his release, Khan shared his views with journalists, saying that they had long been raising their voices for Lumbini’s interests and development.
He said that they had once again been protesting in the interests of Lumbini and had previously met ministers to submit a memorandum regarding appointments to leadership positions at the Trust.
Khan said that they had been compelled to resort to protests, including burning a minister’s effigy, because the government had failed to take the development of Lumbini, its preservation, and the interests of local residents seriously.
Khan said that they respected the rule of law but would continue their campaign to safeguard the rights and interests of Lumbini residents.
