Law student alleges police brutality during settler relocation in Nepal

A law student advocating for the rights of evicted settlers was brutally assaulted by police officers on July 11 while observing their relocation in Kirtipur. Majid Ansari, a legal activist, visited a holding center after heavy rains inundated the site, displacing families. He and his peers intended to monitor the relocation process but were initially denied entry by police.

“

The state resorted to physical violence to silence us.

The situation escalated when Ansari and his fellow activists noticed an unofficial individual commanding police personnel. When questioned about this person's authority and the selective barring of entry, the police offered no clear explanation, instead directing them to file a formal application. Ansari alleges this was an attempt to evade accountability.

“

My peers Monika Niraula, Sarishma Thapa, Riyab Baniya, and I visited the centre to observe the relocation of the evicted settlers as we felt a moral obligation to witness the situation firsthand.

Following this confrontation, Ansari reports being subjected to a "brutal physical assault" by a group of officers, resulting in temporary unconsciousness and severe facial injuries. He was then detained and later received extrajudicial surveillance at the hospital. Despite the violence and subsequent online hostility, Ansari remains determined to seek accountability for the incident and the systemic failures within the security apparatus.

“

She asked the police officers about his legal capacity and demanded to know why he was permitted inside to command state forces while others were barred from entry.