Kishor Shrestha Questions Equal Enforcement of Law Following Bharat Dahal’s Arrest

Dragon Media News Desk

Senior journalist and Jana Aastha weekly editor Kishor Shrestha has questioned the consistency and impartiality of law enforcement in Nepal, comparing the arrest of political analyst Bharat Dahal with the alleged failure to execute an arrest warrant against another individual accused of misconduct toward women. In a Facebook post on Monday, Shrestha called on the authorities to explain what he described as differing responses to complaints involving two separate cases.

Shrestha said Dahal was arrested in Morang and brought to Kathmandu following political commentary on an investigation concerning Nepal published by the American online outlet The Grayzone. He contrasted the speed of that action with the alleged lack of enforcement against an individual accused of making obscene and offensive remarks about women on social media.

According to Shrestha’s post, an arrest warrant was issued on Asar 25 against a person who allegedly claimed to be a personal assistant to the Deputy Speaker. Shrestha alleged that the individual remained at large in Kathmandu despite complaints concerning misconduct toward women and offensive online statements. The reported warrant, the underlying complaints and the allegations against the individual have not been independently verified for this report.

Shrestha also raised the case of a woman named Kajal Thakur. According to his account, she visited Deputy Speaker Ruby Thakur’s office on Asar 8 and sought justice, alleging that she had been victimized by the same individual. The official complaint records and responses from the parties concerned have yet to be independently established.

The journalist questioned who would bear responsibility if an altercation occurred between the accused individual and those claiming to have been victimized while the reported arrest warrant remained unexecuted. He argued that the matter raised broader questions about the state’s responsibilities, accountability, transparency and impartiality in administering justice.

Shrestha called for the attention of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, the Home Minister, the Inspector General of Police, the Cyber Bureau and National Women Commission Chairperson Kamala Parajuli. He also urged Shram Sanskriti Party General Secretary Aren Rai, Vice-Chairperson Asha Lama, Deputy Speaker’s aide Tara Rai and the Prime Minister’s press adviser Deepa Dahal, among others, to take an interest in allegations of misconduct toward women and their access to justice.

The police investigation involving Dahal and the separate allegations raised by Shrestha concern different legal matters. The grounds for the complaints, nature of the allegations, available evidence and status of any court orders require separate examination.

Shrestha’s Facebook post nevertheless raises a broader public question about whether law enforcement agencies are responding consistently to complaints and implementing judicial orders without discrimination. The matters he has raised require clarification from the relevant authorities, while the allegations against the individuals concerned remain subject to verification and due legal process.