Nepal Police on Monday arrested a British national for 'participating' in a protest programme carried out by Madeshi and Janajati.

Martin Travers, 44, a British passport holder, was arrested on Monday afternoon during a protest outside Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, while he was partcipating in the protest, according to police.

But Martin refuted the police version. He told the post that he was merely taking pictures of the protest when somebody came up from behind and put a protest band on his forehead. He insisted that he was not part of the protest.

The arrest comes a day after reports and pictures of foreigners taking part in the anti-government protest by Madhesi and Janjati groups splashed the media. He is a mural painter and paints people’s faces, his aides said after the arrest.

Chief District Officer of Kathmandu District, Ram Krishna Saubedi, confirmed the arrest of British national who, he said, showed up among protestors carrying flags and donning red band in his forehead during Sunday’s protest.

Martin, a mural painter, held an exhibition titled 'Of Struggles and Dreams - Homage to the People Of Nepal' in Siddhartha Art Gallery in August 2015. The exhibition was inaugurated by British ambassador John Rankin. He was also an artist with Book Bus, a USAID mobile library in Nepal.

He sold his paintings to support art workshop in various schools in the country, including Kanti Ishwari School, Pyafal and Jagat Sundar, Chagall.

Martin, 44, who had actively involved in relief distribution in Rasuwa, came back to Nepal on the anniversary of earthquake to continue his relief programme. 

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