Hari Prsad Phuyal was arrested by police on May 22nd 2004, at around 7:00am at his home at Himalipath, Biratnagar. He was held at the District Police Office in Biratnagar for two days, and then was transferred to a Morang prison under a preventive detention order. At first his family and a lawyer were allowed to visit him, but this stopped around July 23rd. Around that time, his family members were denied access to him, and his wife was told that there were orders “from the top” to prevent anyone from seeing him. On July 29th, his wife and a lawyer were able to see him. Reportedly, he was unable to walk without the support of two men, his face was swollen, and his body was covered in bandages.
In his work as a lawyer, Hari Prasad Phuyal has represented individuals known to be members or sympathizers of the armed political group, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (Maoist). It is believed this was the cause of his arrest.
LRWC is gravely concerned for the safety of Hari Prasad Phuyal and calls on the Nepalese government to ensure he is not tortured or ill-treated.
LRWC ACTION
Letter written august 2nd 2002 by C. A. Morris, B.A., LL.B., LL.M, member of LRWC.
Update
Hari Prasad Phuyal was released from prison September 1st 2002.
