Police have arrested over 50 agitating students including half a dozen central leaders during a program in Janakpur Thursday afternoon.

The students were picked up from Janak Chowk where they were holding a public hearing on whether monarchy was still needed in the country.

Reports said the police have taken under control some of the leaders of the student organizations. The arrested are Guru Raj Ghimire, president, Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), former president of NSU Bishwo Prakash Ghimire, Yogesh Bhattrai, former chairman of All Nepal Independent Students’ Union (ANNFSU), general secretary Khim Lal Bhattrai and central committee member Sunil Shah and NSU district leader Nawal Kishwor Yadav. They were on their way to program venue.

Following the incident, irate students have declared Bandh (closure) for an indefinite period  in Janakpur Bazaar.

Meanwhile, the district committees of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of Janakpur, publishing separate statements immediately after the arrests have condemned police intervention at the program, asking for the release of students summarily.

Seven students organizations that have been carrying out protests for quite some time, have begun the nationwide public hearings on the topic from Wednesday, defying government orders not to sloganeer against the King.