262 T-shirts Bearing Balen Shah’s Image Seized by Police in Jhapa

Police in Jhapa have confiscated 262 T-shirts printed with the image and slogans of Balen Shah, former Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor and senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), that were being offered for sale ahead of the Fagu Purnima (Holi) festival. These items were seized from various locations in Jhapa amid concerns that they could be used for election campaigning or send political messages that might affect the election code of conduct or security-sensitive environment.

The highest number of T-shirts were seized in Birtamod. A team led by Police Inspector Rupesh Rai confiscated 87 T-shirts from shops around Krishithok Chowk, and a unit under Police Assistant Inspector Sushant Paudel recovered 68 from shops in the Birtabazar Haat area, totaling 155 T-shirts.

The printed shirts bore slogans such as “Now this time, Balen Government” and “This Holi with Balen.”

Likewise, a large number of T-shirts were seized from markets in Mechinagar’s Kakarbhitta and Dhulabari. A team led by Police Inspector Birendra Koirala seized 43 T-shirts from various stores in Kakarbhitta, and a team under Police Inspector Nakulraj Gautam seized 17 from Dhulabari.

Police also increased their activities in Damak and Buddhashanti. 21 T-shirts were recovered from shops near Damak Municipality, and 26 from Buddhabare Bazaar in Buddhashanti-3.

Authorities said they are cracking down on the sale and distribution of political promotional materials disguised as Holi merchandise, saying such items could create unhealthy influences in the market.