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Nepal: Treason charges against 3 for referendum on independent Madhes

Sudipraj Kushwaha (26), Chandeshwar Mahato (60) and Bishnudev Chaudhary (35) are members of the Alliance for Independent Madhes (AIM), which seeks the separation of the region from Nepal to form an independent nation.

Updated on: Jan 4, 2016, 18:21:36 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The Nepal government has arrested three activists for holding a referendum on an independent Madhes, the area in the southern Terai plains bordering India that has been rocked by protests over the country’s new constitution.

A polling booth in Siraha district of Nepal bordering Indian where referendum on an independent Madhes was held recently. (Photo courtesy: Alliance for Independent Madhes (AIM))

Sudipraj Kushwaha (26), Chandeshwar Mahato (60) and Bishnudev Chaudhary (35) are members of the Alliance for Independent Madhes (AIM), which seeks the separation of the region from Nepal to form an independent nation.

They were arrested last week from Siraha district for being involved in “anti-national activities”. State-run Rastriya Samachar Samiti quoted police official Shyam Gyawali as saying that a case had been filed against them in a local court.

A statement issued by AIM on Monday said the activists were arrested while holding a “mock referendum” and brought to Kathmandu.

“In recent weeks, the government has intensified its brutal suppression against Madhesi activists through arbitrary arrests, torture and false charges,” it said.

Other Madhesi parties are protesting against the new constitution and seeking changes to address what they call the marginalisation of people in region, but the AIM wants a sovereign Madhes.

The group is led by CK Raut, a PhD from Cambridge University who returned from the US in 2011. He has been arrested several times in the past two years on charges of sedition.

Raut and his followers maintain they conduct their protests in a non-violent manner. The AIM has been conducting training programmes for its cadres and holding a referendum on Madhes in recent weeks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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