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The Social Media Management Guidelines 2080 is part of government efforts to regulate online space and social media through administrative measures. The guidelines and the ban on TikTok undermine the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution and limitations outlined in the Electronic Transaction Act. The guidelines covers diverse issues like fake ID and trolling without defining them, apart from defining ‘hate speech’ loosely, though the onus is on the Parliament to define the term. It bars social media users from creating and sharing contents through anonymous/fake IDs or commenting on shared contents. The right to be a part of cybersphere is key to safeguarding constitutionally-guaranteed digital rights also enshrined in international human rights instruments. Such a provision will violate people’s right to use social media for causes dear to them. Instead of opting for administrative measures to regulate the cybersphere, government should go for legislative regulation. 

The author is Executive Director at Digital Rights Nepal 

A wild tusker killed an elderly man in Jhapa.

The deceased has been identified as Padmalal Tamang (72). He has been residing in Bhutanese refugee camp at Beldangi, Damak.

Chief of Division Forest Office, Jhapa, Meghraj Rai said that the wild elephant had attacked Tamang in Humsedumse Community Forest nearby the camp on Tuesday evening.

Tamang has been residing in hut number 252 of sector two in the camp. He had entered the forest area for firewood.

Chief Rai informed that Tamang was found dead in the forest.

The search was intensified when he did not return home till the evening.

Likewise, a wild tusker has demolished a cemented wall of the house of Bishal Dahal in Mechinagar municipality-11.

Dahal reported that the elephant from the Bansbari Community Forest broke the wall, entered the house and ate up 400-kg paddy and 200-kg rice.

Case 1

Revati Thapa, 29, and her nine-month-old daughter Ritu were burnt alive in their house at Thapa Tol in Triveni-2 of Salyan on September 16. Police later arrested Revati’s ex-boyfriend, Karna Bahadur Basnet, for investigation. Police suspect that Karna was seeing Revati even after her marriage, and that he might have committed the crime out of jealousy. 

Case 2 

Bhavana BK, 28, of Saankha in Rukum West was found murdered in a hotel room in Musikot on Oct 17. Police arrested Lok Bahadur BK, 30, of Simli in Rukum West in connection to the crime. Investigation revealed that Bhavana was in a relationship with Lok Bahadur while her husband was in a foreign country for employment. Police say Lok Bahadur had borrowed Rs 500,000 from Bhavana, and that he murdered her after she pressed him to return the money. Prior to his arrest, Lok Bahadur was in jail for polygamy and had just got out after President Ram Chandra Poudel pardoned him on the Constitution Day. 

Case 3 

Rupesh Swarnakar, a school headmaster from Madrasa Tol in Kalaiya-6 of Bara, was fatally shot on October 30. He died while receiving treatment in Birgunj. Police later found out that Rupesh’s lover and school accountant Radha Gupta had hired gunmen from India to have him murdered. Radha resorted to the crime after Rupesh, a father of two, reportedly refused to marry her.

***

The above tales are but a glimpse into the crimes that are taking place every other day due to extramarital affairs. Such relationships are causing families to disintegrate, leaving innocent children helpless. 

Sociologist and professor Dambar Chemjong reflects on the evolution of extramarital affairs and the rise in crimes of passion in modern Nepali society. He attributes the increase in the number of extramarital affairs and crimes relating to such a relationship to technology.

“There used to be fewer cases in the past. But with the age of technology, people now have gained freedom, and the means of meeting different individuals. There is a growing tendency to share things with others under the pretext of alleviating tension.”

Chemjong adds: “Couples are also spending more time away from each other because one of them is working away from home. When a couple has not met for an extended period, they become suspicious of each other, and extramarital affairs tend to flourish. Foreign employment is also a significant factor contributing to the rise in extramarital affairs.”

Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Mainali, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, believes that the combination of unemployment opportunities at home and heavy social media use is causing the rise in cases of infidelity and crimes as a result of such illicit affairs.  

“Casual relationships are being formed on social media just to pass the time and in some cases these relationships evolve into something more. Even married individuals are falling in this trap,” says Mainali. “We have observed that lovers commit crimes like murder and assault when they are unable to manage their extramarital affairs.”

Former deputy inspector general (DIG) of Nepal Police, Hemanta Malla Thakuri, expresses concern that the increasing prevalence of extramarital affairs is not good news for society. 

“If a relationship is not healthy, it can lead to criminal activities,” he says. “This applies not only to extramarital affairs but to every relationship. Any relationship that is uncomfortable and strained can be fatal.”

DIG Kuber Kadayat, spokesperson for Nepal Police, says that individuals involved in extramarital affairs often refrain from reporting incidents of violence with the police. 

“Many opt to keep such matters private out of fear of being exposed for having extramarital affairs. This, in turn, can escalate into heinous crimes,” he adds.

Psychiatrist Karuna Kunwar says people normally resort to crime when they are unable to control their anger and passion. She says if one is careful about keeping their emotions in check, illicit love affairs and crimes relating to extramarital relationships could be lowered.

“In most cases, misunderstandings and ego between partners are the main reasons behind extramarital affairs. When the emotion and intimacy between a couple start to disappear, they seek outside relationships for mental happiness,” says Kunwar. “Not appreciating each other’s desires, not listening to each other, not speaking your mind, and not having time for each other can cause a rift in the relationship.”

Advocate Priya Hari Bhandari says that being involved in a romantic relationship with other individuals while being married is illegal and has a far-reaching impact on families and society. 

“Extramarital affairs have repercussions on the family, children, and society at large. In case of disagreements between the couple, efforts should be made to resolve the issues,” says Bhadari. “If the relationship is not working, the couple can always opt for legal separation.”

Former foreign minister Bhesh Bahadur Thapa’s autobiography ‘Rastra-Pararastra: Ekatadekhi Ganatantrasamma’ was launched amidst a program on Tuesday.

The book has incorporated Thapa’s experiences from Panchayat System to Republic and the issues of contemporary politics.

Book’s author Thapa, co-author Hari Bahadur Thapa, federal lawmaker duo Swarnim Wagle and Sumana Shrestha, journalist and writer Sudhir Sharma jointly launched the book this afternoon.

Before being elected as the foreign minister, Thapa had served as member secretary of the then Planning Council, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, finance secretary and ambassador to India and the US.

Similarly, he also led the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) from Nepal side after the promulgation of the new Constitution.