More than 150 former Kamaiyas (bonded labourers) were arrested during their protest in front of Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, on Thursday.

A former ‘kamaiya’ (bonded laborers) being arrested while staging a protest rally at Singha Durbar-a restricted area-demanding land and employment opportunities for them, Wednesday, July 19 06, nepalnews.com/rh

Police intervened and took into custody former Kamaiya activists as soon as they started their sit-in the afternoon, demanding land and resettlement.

The arrested former Kamaiyas have been kept at the Mahendra Police Club and No.2 Battalion of the police at Maharajgunj.

They have been carrying out protests at Maitighar Mandala and in front of Singha Durbar since Tuesday, asking the government to meet their demands immediately.

The government had abolished the practice of bonded laborers six years ago. Out of about 35,000 ‘freed’ Kamaiyas, who belong to ethnic Tharu community, in four districts of mid and far-western Nepal – Banke, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur – 19,000 former Kamaiyas are yet to get land plots as promised by the government. The former Kamaiyas have also been carrying out protests in these districts also.