On November 17, medical entrepreneur and political activist, Durga Prasai, was arrested from his residence in Bhaktapur at midnight. The authorities have confirmed that he was taken into custody on suspicion of repeatedly issuing statements deemed capable of inciting public unrest and provoking violence.
Prasai had recently announced plans to launch nationwide protests from November 23. In the weeks leading up to his arrest, security agencies had been closely monitoring his activities. He had delivered a series of provocative speeches, warning that he could bring the country “to a standstill.” His group had also submitted a 27-point demand to the Home Ministry, led by Madhav Khatri. They claimed to be coordinating the planned agitation with the Nepali Congress (BP), a small splinter political group.