On 21 August 2001, an official from the Sikkim police's Criminal Investigation Section arrested Rajesh Bhattarai in Siliguri, West Bengal. Bhattarai is editor of "Aaja Bholi", a Nepali language daily published in Siliguri.
According to the daily "Kantipur" (published in Nepal), police arrested Bhattarai on the charge of publishing a news report "which disturbs the communal harmonious relations of society." Police filed a similar charge against Bhattarai under Article 153 A/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in November 2000.
