Nepal: One killed, 15 hurt as pro-monarchy supporters clash with cops

Kathmandu, Mar 28 (PTI) The Army was called out and a curfew was imposed on parts of Kathmandu on Friday after one person was killed and 30 injured as pro-monarchy protesters pelted stones, attacked the office of a political party, set fire to vehicles, and looted shops.

District authorities said the curfew will be in force for about five hours, up to 10 pm. Nobody was to be allowed to move about in certain areas.

About half of the people injured were police personnel, authorities said, as they tried to disperse protesters who pelted stones and tried to break through security barriers.

Sabin Maharjan, 29, from Kathmandu, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital. He sustained a bullet injury during the clash, authorities said.

During the clash, the protesters burnt a house, torched eight vehicles, attacked the office of CPN-Unified Socialists in Baneshwor, looted the Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Chabahil and vandalised the offices of Kantipur Television and Annapurna Post newspaper.

The Kathmandu district administration announced the curfew between Shantinagar Bridge and Manohara River Bridge, including Koteshwor, Tinkune, the airport area, Baneshwor Chowk, and Gaushala.

People were allowed to travel to the airport if they produced their tickets, officials said.

Officials said public gatherings, demonstrations, meetings and sit-ins were prohibited during the period.

The curfew came as monarchists carrying former king Gyanendra Shah's picture and the national flags of Nepal demonstrated in the Tinkune area, leading to clashes with police.

Thousands of monarchists chanted slogans such as "Raja aau desh bachau" (May King come to save the Country), "Down with corrupt government", and "We want monarchy back", demanding the restoration of the monarchy in Nepal.

The protesters tried to break the barricades set up to prevent clashes with the Socialist Forum, which also held demonstrations in the Bhrikutimandap area in favour of the republican system.

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli convened an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the ongoing unrest in the country.

A Ministry of Home Affairs statement in condemnation of vandalism and burning of public property said the demonstrators were taking the advantage of liberty to assemble without weapons and the freedom of opinion.

"The organisers themselves are responsible for such acts of violence," pointed out the ministry.

It said the government was committed to bringing to justice those indulged in violation of laws.

The police also detained several youths for defying restrictions when demonstrators attempted to move towards New Baneshwor, a restricted area.

Nepal’s political parties through a Parliament declaration abolished the 240-year-old monarchy in 2008 and turned the erstwhile Hindu kingdom into a secular, federal, democratic republic.

The monarchists have been demanding the restoration of the monarchy since the former king appealed for support in his video message telecast on Democracy Day (February 19).

The pro-monarchy activists also held a rally on March 9 in support of former king Gyanendra Shah who landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport from Pokhara after visiting religious places in different parts of the country.

Some supporters displayed photographs of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s image alongside Gyanendra’s.

On the other hand, thousands of anti-monarchy supporters led by the Socialist Front gathered at Bhrikutimandap, chanting slogans like "Long live republican system", "Take action against corrupt people", and "Down with Monarchy".

The anti-monarchy front was joined by political parties such as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and CPN-Unified Socialist.

CPN-Maoist Centre chief Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda, addressing a grand rally attended by thousands of people at Bhrikutimandap here, said the pro-monarchist forces should not consider the liberal attitude of Nepali people and political parties as their weakness.

He said the former king was reduced to an ordinary citizen because of his past wrongdoings and asked Gyanendra not to repeat the same mistake so that he would lose everything. PTI