One protestor was killed and over 100 injured when security forces intervened pro-democracy demonstrations in various parts of the country on Monday, the 12th day of the general strike called by the seven party alliance (SPA) demanding restoration of complete democracy bringing an end to the autocracy.

One CPN-UML activist Hiralal Gautam was killed and about half-a-dozen protestors injured, two critically, after security personnel opened fire against demonstrators who were organizing a protest rally in Nijgadh of Bara district.

In the capital, protestors defied the government’s prohibitory orders by organizing rallies, gatherings and sit-ins in various parts of the Valley on Monday.

At least 90 protesters were injured at Chabahil-Chuchepati area as riot police baton-charged demonstrators, teargassed them and fired rubber bullets to disperse the protestors for defying the government’s prohibitory order.

The injured have been admitted to nearby Om Hospital and Research Centre and Medicare hospital. Police have taken into custody dozens of protestors from the protest rally. The NC said over a dozen of its workers were rounded up.

In an attempt to foil the rally, the government issued a prohibitory order on Sunday banning protest, procession and sit-ins within the Ring Road and 200 meters from the Ring Road.

Demonstrations and torch rallies were also taken out at Bhimsengola, Bouddha, Kapan, Maharajgunj, Balaju, Ason, Sitapaila, Kirtipur, Patan, Kupandol, Thimi, Sitapaila and Kalanki.

Clashes in front of the CPN-UML office at Balkhu left some of the agitators injured. Protestors vandalized two taxis and a motorbike there. Police arrested four leaders, Ram Chandra Tiwari, Deepak Khatri, Rishi Tiwari and Dev Timilsena from the protest programme.

In Buddhanagar and Ghattekulo, women took out a rally banging steel plates.

Civil servants of various ministries also joined the pro-democracy movement and organized protest programme inside the ministry premises on Monday. The employees of Supreme Court also joined the stir by organizing sit-in at the court premises for one and half an hour.

In Itahari, at least fifty demonstrators and half a dozen policemen were injured during the clash between security forces and the protestors. Even the Nepal Red Cross volunteers, who were involved in the treatment of the injured, were manhandled by the police.

Meanwhile, the police manhandled journalists reporting on the police intervention in a torch rally. Half a dozen journalists were injured.

In Simara, two dozen protestors were injured after police intervened in a protest rally.

In Kalaiya, at least 24 agitators were injured when police intervened in a rally and beat up protesters. The police also fired four rounds of rubber bullets. Around 300 women staged a rally carrying plates, brooms and ladles.

Meanwhile, security forces escorted some vehicles along the highway.

A report from Narayangarh said four agitators were injured when security forces fired bullets at them at Ratnanagar municipality. The RNA men who were escorting vehicles from Hetauda, opened fire at Tandi Bazaar while clearing the Mahendra Highway. A security source said the forces opened fire after agitators stoned the RNA vehicle.

In Birgunj, over a dozen activists were injured when police intervened in a demonstration. Police also beat up civilians at Mina Bazaar, Ghantaghar and Adarsha Nagar.

In Ramechhap, the agitating parties staged a massive rally at Manthali. Three agitators were hurt when the police intervened.

Women in Sindhupalchowk also staged a rally.

In Bhairahawa, students burnt an effigy of regression at Buddha Chowk. Employees of the Nepal Electricity Authority, Bhairahwa, staged a pen down strike.

Rallies were also held in Nawalparasi. In Rautahat, people from different walks of life took out a rally at Gaur.

In Pyuthan, the Nepal Ranger Association, Nepal Forest Guard Association, Civil Servants’ Association and Local Development Employees Association staged a sit-in at the District Forest Office premises.

In Lamjung, a rally was led by former Indian and British Army personnel at Besi Sahar. Rallies were also held in Hetauda.

In Lekhnath, the RNA used loudspeakers to warn civilians against taking out rallies saying Maoists had entered the municipality. However, thousands of people staged a rally at Sisuwa.

In Nepalgunj, 20 demonstrators, including UML’s office secretary Hem Raj Giri and district president of People’s Front Nepal Mahendra Bahadur Mahat, were injured in police action. The police also fired blank shots to disperse the crowd in Jumla.

The Panchthar chamber of commerce and industry also organised a protest rally. nepalnews.com pb Apr 18 06