KATHMANDU: Police have arrested 22 free-Tibet movement campaigners and human rights activists from Kathmandu over the past three days. They were planning to hold protests during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal.

According to Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, five persons were arrested from Swoyambhu, nine from Bouddha, six from Pharping and two from an undisclosed location in Kathmandu. Police said those arrested from Bouddha were wearing track suits with ‘Free Tibet’ slogan. Others were carrying Tibetan flags and bags with ‘Free Tibet’ slogans.

Eleven of those arrested were Tibetan refugees while others were Nepalis, according to police.

Tenzing Lama, a Nepali citizen and a human rights activist, was arrested by police on October 10 from his residence in Thamel. Lama is receiving treatment at Manmohan Hospital under police custody since Friday.

Another human rights activist, BP Poudel, was arrested from Kathmandu on Saturday, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati.

However, some of those arrested from Bouddha were released on Saturday afternoon, according to a police source. Indra Prasad Aryal, chairman of Human Rights Organisation-Nepal, told THT that three police personnel had been deployed at his Balaju residence for the last three days. “They constantly keep an eye on me and follow all my movements. As a result I could not raise the human rights issues of Tibetan people,” he said. Police have stepped up security around monasteries in Kathmandu to prevent protests against the Chinese’s president’s visit or raising Tibetan issues, as Nepal is committed to one-China policy.