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Top Stories Saturday March 26, 10:28 AM
Three Nepal scholars barred from India meet By Indo-Asian News Service
Kathmandu, March 26 (IANS) Three Nepalese academics, including a former ambassador to India, were Friday prevented by security forces from traveling to India to attend a seminar.
Lokraj Baral, a former Nepalese envoy to India and a respected author, as well as Tribhuvan University professors Krishna Khanal and Krishna Hachchethu were to take part in the seminar to be held in Goa from Saturday.
The Centre for the Study of Developing Society in New Delhi had organised the meet.
But security personnel stopped all three at the Tribhuvan International Airport, saying they had instructions from higher authorities.
The outspoken Baral, also a political scientist, had faced a similar situation last month. He was arrested at the airport Feb 7 when he was returning from New Delhi.
He was kept under arrest for 18 days, triggering protests both at home and abroad.
An indignant Baral told the Kathmandu Post newspaper: "If we are a threat to the state, we ask to be imprisoned. If not, why are we being treated like this?"
He also told the daily that professionals should not be treated as politicians. "We are not advocating any political doctrine," he said.
Since King Gyanendra sacked the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba Feb 1 and assumed absolute powers with the help of the army, Nepal has been under a state of emergency with the suspension of civil rights.
The new regime has also said it could impose curbs on movements of its citizens as well as others living in the kingdom.
Early this month, the arrest of noted Nepalese journalist Kanak Mani Dixit created another furore.
Dixit was taken into custody after returning from India where he had delivered lectures at seminars organised by Kolkata's Jadavpur University and New Delhi's India International Centre.
He was arrested 48 hours after his return to Kathmandu but was released in five hours following protests from diplomatic and UN missions in Kathmandu.
Another scholar, Om Gurung, was also barred at the airport earlier from flying to India to attend a seminar on indigenous communities.
