Over 247 injured, hundreds of thousands people take to the street on Saturday rejecting royal address

April 23, 2006
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At least 247 protestors were injured while defying curfew orders imposed by the government on Saturday in various parts of the valley protesting the royal proclamation of King Gyanendra demanding restoration of complete democracy in the country.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators defied curfew orders in Kathmandu, tried to march to Ratna Park and beyond and clashed with the security personnel, who fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas shells.

Demonstrations were held at Ratna Park, Tripureswor, Gongabu, Mahakal, Kapan, Dilli Bazar, Golfutar, Kalanki and other places in the capital.

Of the injured people, 160 protesters admitted to Model Hospital having sustained cranial injuries. Three persons with bullet injuries are undergoing treatment at Norvic hospital, while five were taken away by the police, who claimed that their condition was very critical. Thirty-seven of the injured were admitted in Norvic, 15 in Teaching Hospital, seven in Patan hospital and two in B & B Hospital. Five persons with bullet wounds were admitted in Bir Hospital.

UML, however, claimed that 700 people were injured on Saturday’s demonstration.

Hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets in various parts of the country on Saturday.

In Pokhara, tens of thousands took out rallies at various places in the town right from Saturday morning to protest the king’s address to the nation.

Protestors also declared that they reject the royal address as it ignores the Nepali people’s longing for peace and democracy. Doctors and nurses at Manipal Teaching Hospital also hit the streets, in their white aprons and stethoscopes around their necks.

A report from Parbat said, irate demonstrators in Parbat demolished a statue of the late King Mahendra, father of the present king, at district headquarters Kusma. The two security personnel guarding the statue looked on helplessly when protesters smashed it to pieces.

In Biratnagar in the east, a massive rally was organized requesting political party leaders not to listen to the king’s offer as it fails to address the long-persisting Maoist problem. Forty-seven various professional organizations warned the agitating party leaders not to become entangled in any conspiracy hatched by the palace.

Meanwhile, thousands of people took to the streets for the same cause in Urlabari, Khorsane, Sautha, Pathari and Letang also in Morang district.

In Butwal, the biggest ever demonstration in the town was staged. Some 200,000 people participated in the demonstration that continued throughout the day. Also, the protestors burnt down the statue of the late King Tribhuvan at Golpark.

In Nepalgunj, rickshaw pullers and horse-carriage operators took out rallies along with their horses, waving the flags of the agitating political parties.

In Bardiya, thousands participated in the funeral of Yam Lal Lamichhane, who died of bullet injuries sustained during a peaceful demonstration. Police shot Lamichhane on Thursday. Likewise, in Kavre, the funeral of Sagun Tamrakar, who was killed in security forces firing in the capital Thursday, was held in Panauti.

Demonstrations were also held in Bara, Baglung, Beni, Bhairahawa, Bhojpur, Dang, Darchula, Dadeldhura, Dailekh, Dhading, Dhankuta, Dharan, Dolakha, Hetauda, Ilam, Janakpur, Jhapa, Kavre, Lamjung, Palpa, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, Saptari, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Syangja, Surkhet and Tehrathum.nepalnews.com pb Apr 23 06