PHA-Exchange> More about the arrest and whereabout of Dr. Jitendra Mahaseth.

[Mathura P Shrestha]

Dr. Jitendra Mahaseth, 46 years old Deputy Director of Lord Buddha Medical
College, Kohalpur, Nepalgunj, Nepal was arrested by Royal Nepal Army on
December 15 (Paush 1, 2058 BS) at about 11 AM while on duty in Medical
College Hospital. His whereabouts is not known (although he is rumored that
he is kept in a local Army Barrack) according to his son, Dr. Vinod Mahaseth
and Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC). According to INSEC, when it
inquired The Chief District Officer (CDO or equivalent to District
magistrate) he replied that he was arrested for treating Maoists and he is
detained for "interrogation". According to Dr Mahaseth's wife, Ms Shanti
Mahaseth, nobody from the family are able to meet him. They are afraid even
to make necessary inquiry. She and other family members have earnestly
requested human rights activists, media personnel and concerned organization
to initiate public inquiry on his whereabouts, howabouts and to help release
him.
In 1986 while serving as Medical Officer of Udayapur District Hospital Dr.
Mahaseth was also arrested for being active in Nepal Democratic Front (A
political Party banned at the time). He was released after about 7 months.
He was also sacked from his government job as medical officer. After this he
was arrested several times on the same charge. Since 1988 Dr Mahaseth
dissociated from any political activities and strictly devoted himself to
professional dispensations. Following the success of Peoples' Democratic
Movement the Democratic Front was legalized and charges against its all
members were formally withdrawn by the government. But Dr. Mahaseth did not
join the party again. He was elected chairperson of the Human Rights
Organization of Siraha District in 1990.In 1947 he was contested a seat in
the Parliament though not elected. Dr Mahaseth has wife, two sons and a
daughter.

Pasted here is an e-mail from INSEC.

Dear Mathura Sir,

On Dec. 15, Dr. Jitendra Mahaseth, working in the Medical College of
Kohalpur, Banke was arrested by the armed police from the college on the
charge of medical treatment extended to the Maoists.

This if the information received from INSEC, Mid-west Region, Nepalgunj.

Sincerely,

Devika Timilsina
Director