Kathmandu, April 14:

Security forces today arrested over 12 development workers, a human rights activist and a young singer from a pro-democracy demonstration at New Baneshwor, Kathmandu.

Police butted in when the development workers were demonstrating against gross violations of human rights across the country and police brutality against those taking part in peaceful demonstrations.

Among those arrested today are Bhagwati Nepal, Sharmila Karki, Dr Netra Timilsina, Bhola Bhattarai, Rajendra Lamichhane, Thakur Bhandari, Durga Shrestha, Gajadhar Sunar, Santosh BK, Mitra Lal Sharma, Saraj Gurung and Min Bahadur Basnet — representatives of a number of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Aside from them, Shanti Adhikari, the general secretary of the Human Rights Alliance, and young singer Rubin Gandharva were arrested.

Gandharva, the young singer, was set free later while other detainees were taken to the Ward Police Office at New Baneshor.

In separate press statements, the NGO Federation of Nepal and the Human Rights Observation Team condemned police highhandedness and called on the government to set the detainees free at the earliest.