Nepal: Journalist arrested for criticising PM Balendra Shah, released after protests
The journalist was identified as Roshan Pokharel, who ran the YouTube channel named ‘Hades'
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Published: Apr 13, 2026 11:34 AM | 1 min read
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A journalist in Nepal was arrested and later released for criticising Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on his YouTube channel. The journalist, identified as Roshan Pokharel, had allegedly used abusive language against the Prime Minister on his YouTube channel. Pokharel, who ran the YouTube channel ‘Hades,’ was arrested on April 9 in Panchthar district in eastern Nepal.
The incident sparked protests and public backlash. Pokharel was taken into custody for several days before being released on personal guarantee but has to cooperate with authorities when required.
His arrest drew sharp criticism from activists and members of Nepal’s Gen Z movement, who argued that detaining someone over expression was unacceptable and raised concerns about freedom of speech.
Protesters and rights advocates called for his immediate release, warning against what they described as a move towards authoritarianism.
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