Nepal Police has arrested 21-year old Toranraj Poudel aka Madhu today (May 14) allegedly for posting disfigured images of political leaders on his social media page from Sindhuli. Sindhuli lies in Bagmati Province of Nepal.
According to FF's representative Ram Mani Dahal, Poudel has been charged under Electronic Transaction Act. Poudel was arrested after Kathmandu District Court issued arrest order on May 10 following Metropolitan Police Circle, Kathmandu's complaint at the court.
A statement issued by Cyber Bureau of Police accused Poudel of mutilating photos of Nepal's Prime Minister including other political figures and disturbing public morality spreading hoax in socia media sites.
However, arrested Poudel stated that he had only shared those images on his page and not created himself.
Freedom Forum is concerned over the arrest as it is violation of freedom of expression. Arresting a citizen under cyber crime charge merely for sharing on social media page is against the right to freedom of expression. Hence FF urges security authority to resort legitimate way for concern over his post rather than sheer misuse of ETA.
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Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np