The District Police Range, Kathmandu, has arrested 20 Ugandan women on charges of engaging in immoral activities and indecent behavior in the Thamel area of ​​Kathmandu.

According to Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, Information Officer of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, they were arrested for illegally operating a sex business in public places targeting domestic and foreign tourists visiting Thamel, unnecessarily stopping, teasing and behaving indecently with ordinary people and tourists.

‘After receiving information from locals, the police took them into custody from the Fire Chowk area while conducting surveillance and checking at various places in Thamel,’ Bhattarai said. ‘They were found in a state where they were unnecessarily obstructing the path of foreign and domestic tourists and ordinary people and causing distress and embarrassment by engaging in obscene activities.’

According to the police, all the women arrested are Ugandan citizens. Their ages range from 23 to 44 years. They were arrested on Monday night and are being investigated by the Lainchaur Police Circle after obtaining a 12-day extension from the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, for the crime of indecent behavior.

Initial police investigation has revealed that they, who came to Nepal on tourist visas at different times, were involved in such activities in the Thamel area.

In Nepal, there is a provision under the Criminal Code, 2074 BS that prohibits obscene or sexual activities in public places. According to the said code, indecent or obscene activities cannot be done in public places even if there is consent and such an act is considered to be a violation of public dignity and peace and legal action will be taken.