Fact Check: Ashika Tamang spreads confusion on social media after claiming to have been acquitted by the court

Kathmandu: Ashika Tamang, who identifies herself as a social activist, posted on Facebook on Thursday claiming that she had been acquitted by the court. Following her post, several Facebook pages also shared similar claims. However, TechPana Fact Check found her claim to be misleading.

The Bhaktapur District Court has not acquitted Tamang. Instead, the court sentenced her to five days in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 500.

Claim

On August 28, 2025, at 3 p.m., a post appeared on the verified Facebook page named Ashika Tamang. In the post, Ashika uploaded a photo taken in front of the Bhaktapur District Court. The caption read, “The Bhaktapur District Court has acquitted the defendant Ashika Tamang today in the case of protesting against the rule of charging 20 rupees fee required to cross the existing suspension bridge in Sanga, Bhaktapur district.” (Translated)

As of this writing, the post has received over 17,000 reactions, 919 comments, and 36 shares. (See the original post, archived post, and screenshot.)

Investigation

TechPana Fact Check Desk searched for sources supporting Tamang’s claims. During the process, a page named Taja Khabar had posted that Tamang was acquitted. The caption read, “The Bhaktapur District Court has acquitted social activist Ashika Tamang. She was charged with criminal mischief for tearing up a receipt book while protesting the rule of charging Rs 20 at a suspension bridge in Sanga. Tamang was ordered to be released on bail on Magh 18, 2081.” (Translated) (See the screenshot.) While fact-checking, it was found that Taja Khabar had deleted this post.

Another Facebook page, News Nepal Media, also posted a notice of Tamang’s acquittal with her photo. The caption read, “Ashika Tamang acquitted. The Bhaktapur District Court has acquitted the defendant Ashika Tamang in the case of protesting against the 20 rupees paid to cross the existing suspension bridge in Sanga, Bhaktapur district.” (See original post, archived post, and screenshot.)

Similarly, an online outlet, Guptacharkhabar.com, published a news item claiming Tamang had been acquitted. (See news item, archive link, and screenshot.)

Sutra News also posted that Tamang was acquitted. (See original Facebook post, original link of the news item, archive post, and screenshot.)

Likewise, Isha Maya Gurung posted congratulating Tamang on her “acquittal.” (See original post, archive post, and screenshot.)

Based on Tamang’s Facebook post, other users also repeated the same claim. TechPana Fact Check Desk contacted Hira Kumari Bhandari, Information Officer of the Bhaktapur District Court, for clarification. Bhandari confirmed to Tekpana, “Ashika Tamang’s case has been decided today. She (Ashika Tamang) has been sentenced to five days in prison and a fine of five hundred rupees.”

We also reviewed the daily case list of the Bhaktapur District Court. It confirmed that a bench led by Justice Bishwanath Bhattarai had pronounced the final verdict, ruling that the prosecution’s claim was sufficient. These findings prove that Tamang spread misleading information by claiming she was acquitted.

Claim

Ashika Tamang was acquitted by the Bhaktapur District Court in the case of protesting the Rs 20 fee at the Sanga suspension bridge.

Claimant

Verified Facebook page Ashika Tamang, Taja Khabar, News Nepal Media, Guptacharkhabar.com (online media), Sutra News (online media), Ishamaya Gurung, and other Facebook pages and users.

Facts

The Bhaktapur District Court did not acquit Ashika Tamang. The bench of Justice Bishwanath Bhattarai sentenced her to five days in prison and a fine of Rs 500. The daily case list also recorded that the final verdict concluded “the prosecution’s claim is sufficient.” Based on these facts, the claim that Tamang was acquitted is misleading.

Conclusion

The information spread by Ashika Tamang on social media, claiming that she was acquitted by the Bhaktapur District Court, is misleading. The court has not acquitted her. Instead, it sentenced her to five days in prison and a fine of Rs 500.

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