Nepal Police and PM’s Secretariat give conflicting accounts of journalists’ arrests

Kathmandu, October 31, 2026 — Statements from Nepal Police and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat have presented conflicting accounts of the involvement of the Prime Minister’s Office in Friday’s incident involving journalists.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat said the office was neither involved in the incident nor had prior knowledge of it. Nepal Police, however, said its Cyber Bureau had called some journalists to its office following concerns raised by the Prime Minister’s Office.

In a press statement issued around midnight on Friday, Nepal Police said false news reports and messages targeting the police had repeatedly circulated on social media and in the media.

According to the police, such content could damage public perceptions of the force’s professionalism, public trust, relations between the government and the police organisation, and the credibility of its investigations.

The police said the Cyber Bureau had called some journalists to seek general information about the accuracy, factual basis and legal grounds of the reports in response to concerns raised by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement described the decision as a legitimate action taken in good faith as part of the police force’s duties.