The Hindu : Front Page : Over 750 held in Nepal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Over 750 held in Nepal

Police open fire; 60 injured

Photo: AP

STREET BATTLES: Riot police surround pro-democracy activists staging a demonstration against King Gyanendra in Kathmandu on Friday. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets as a four-day nationwide general strike entered the second day.

Kathmandu: Nepal's Royal Government on Friday arrested over 750 people on the second day of the nationwide Opposition strike. The police opened fire and lobbed tear gas shells leaving around 60 protesters injured. Home Minister Kamal Thapa said 751 protesters were arrested and 115 among them were sent to prison under a strict public safety law which allowed the Government to jail people without charge for 90 days. However, the Opposition claimed that more than 200 activists were given three months' jail term under the Public Security Act.

The authorities on Thursday arrested over 1,000 protesters.

"The Government is using minimum force to control the situation," Mr. Thapa claimed at a press conference here, adding that adequate arrangements had been made to ensure the security of the people.

Minister's charge

Mr. Thapa claimed that demonstrations here turned violent in which Government property and some vehicles were damaged.

He alleged that the Maoists' special task force was involved in attacking Government property and that the seven-party alliance's agitation against the King's direct rule had gone out of control.

But the Opposition denied the allegation, claiming that it was the government which infiltrated into the peaceful movement and turned it violent. "Our agitation was peaceful but the Government provoked in some places, which caused sporadic incidents of violence," the alliance leaders said. — PTI

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