One pro-democracy activist was killed when riot police opened fire at a demonstration organised by the seven opposition political parties in Parasi Bazaar, the district headquarters of Nawalparasi, Wednesday afternoon.

Police opened fire at the demonstrators soon after both sides threw bricks and stones at each other, reports from Nawalparasi said. Bishnu Pandey, 28, who was rushed to the Lumbini Zonal Hospital in Butwal after being shot at, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Pandey, who is the fifth person to be killed during the seven parties’ protests since last week, was a CPN (UML) cadre.

Four activists also received bullet injuries while 58 others were wounded in police beating, reports said. Thousands of people took to the street in Parasi, chanting anti-government slogans in the afternoon.

Quoting eyewitnesses, reports said police used excessive force to disperse the crowd of demonstrators. nepalnews.com mk/by Apr 12 06