Journalists Hari Bahadur Thapa and Khim Ghale recount their arrest at a political rally in Kantipur, 18 April

It was 10PM and the two of us were still in custody at the Singha Darbar ward police. A few journalists came to see us, including the president and general secretary of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ). They told us that the Home Ministry had issued a statement saying we were detained because we manhandled security personnel and stoned them.

We were surprised and upset. It was then that the FNJ decided to seek the resignation of the home minister, a public apology from Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and resolved to start our own movement if we were not released. The incident was an eye-opener for professional introspection. There we were, on the streets to gather information on the ongoing street protests. We were arrested although our press passes were displayed prominently. We were stopped in front of the Red Cross office and other fellow journalists asked why we were being taken. The security personnel answered, "We're just following higher orders." After the initial skirmish, just two of us were taken. A police officer grabbed our collars, kicked us and hit us with batons, taking care to aim at our heads. We were then brought to Singha Darbar like petty criminals.

We were framed. It was a lesson on how officialdom distorts facts. And these very "facts" are those we, asjournalists, reported over the years. It is our right to provide unbiased and accurate reporting. Free press must have access to the field.

Could they have mistaken our pen and notepads for sticks and bricks? We challenge the government to give legitimate cause for our arrest. After spending the night in custody, a police officer came early the next morning and asked for a list of our visitors. A few hours later, the chief of the station let us go, saying again that he had received orders from higher up.

Who is this elusive 'higher-up'? Is it the home minister? If so, why did he try to frame us? It was probably intended to intimidate the entire the press corps, otherwise over 70 journalists would not have been arrested that day.