Bhattarai slams detention conditions of Rabi Lamichhane

KATHMANDU– Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has raised serious concerns about the treatment of Rabi Lamichhane, currently detained at Rupandehi District Prison. Following a personal visit, Bhattarai described the conditions as “unacceptable” and “regressive,” drawing comparisons to Nepal’s authoritarian Panchayat era.

Lamichhane, a sitting Member of Parliament and leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is reportedly being held in a cramped cell with no access to newspapers or reading materials. Bhattarai emphasized that even during the Panchayat regime, prisoners were allowed to read and stay informed.

“We had newspapers back then. Today, an elected representative is being denied even that basic right,” Bhattarai told reporters. “When I asked the police, they said there was no order to provide such materials. That’s not just bureaucratic negligence it’s a violation of dignity.”

Bhattarai also criticized the lack of open space in the facility, stating that humane conditions must be upheld regardless of the charges.

“Prisons are not meant to crush the spirit. I will raise this issue with the concerned authorities,” he added.

The former Prime Minister urged the Speaker of the House to either release Lamichhane on bail or initiate a by-election if his seat is to be vacated. He argued that Lamichhane poses no risk of fleeing and should be allowed to defend himself outside custody.

This visit comes amid growing public debate over the treatment of political figures in detention and the broader implications for democratic norms in Nepal.