'Occupy Baluwatar' activists released

Thirty two activists participating in 'Occupy Baluwatar' campaign against violence against women were arrested during a demonstration in front of the Prime Minister's residence on Friday.

Police rounded up the activists when they were chanting slogans against the government's inability to take steps to check violence against women and punish those involved in some of the most serious cases of brutality on women. Among those arrested were leading women rights activist Dr Renu Raj Bhandari, Lily Thapa and journalists Budhusi Dhungel and Kamala Panthi.

The agitators said they were continuing the campaign as the government has not acted despite receiving the recommendation of a panel on checking violence against women. The arrested activists were freed in the evening.

The women rights agitators had launched 'Occupy Baluwatar' campaign in the last week of December in the wake of series of cases of gruesome violence against women with at least two losing their lives. Nepalnews.com