3 charged with treason in Nepal on demand for separate Madhes

Nepal government has slapped treason charges against three Madhesi activists for holding a mock referendum on the demand for a ‘Free Madhes’ state.

The trio was involved in holding referendum in southern Nepal on whether to declare the southern plains - home to the Madhesis - as an independent state or not, officials said. The three were arrested from Siraha district in southern Nepal on January 2 and brought to Kathmandu, where charges have been filed against them in the Special Court. Among the three, Chandeshwor Mahato, 60, acted as an international observer and Sudip Raj Kushwaha, 26, as the Election Officer in the mock referendum held on December 26 in Siraha district.

Another arrestee Bishnu Dev Chaudhary, 35, is a central member of the Alliance for Independent Madhes from the district. The alliance has held a mock referendum in the area recently. The arrest comes in the wake of intensified action by the government against those propagating for a free Madhes. Life in the southern Nepal plains have been seriously affected by the protests by Madhesis —largely of Indian-origin —against the country’s new Constitution that was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on September 20. So far, over 50 people have died during the Madhesi-Tharu agitation launched by the marginalised groups of the country.

Two others — Brajesh Singh and Sadam Ansari -- arrested on November 24 from a meeting, are still in police custody, the Alliance for Independence Madhes in a statement.

Those arrested for conducting the mock referendum are believed to be the followers of C K Raut who returned Nepal from the US five years ago. Raut is also on the wanted list of the government. Unlike the Madhesi Front which is demanding re-demarcation of the provincial boundary, the Alliance for Independent Madhes wants the southern plains adjoining India as a separate state.