Defiant students continued protests Thursday and shouted anti-King slogans in campuses in the Valley for five minutes.

Students smashed a government vehicle and torched a motorcycle in the capital. Students protested one day after government withdrew state offence charges against three student leaders Wednesday for sloganeering against the King last week.

Security fired warning shots at Bharatpur in Chitwan Thursday to disperse protesting students who obstructed traffic; at least a dozen protesters were injured. The Nepali Congress condemned the use of force and alleged two injured students were picked up from an ambulance as they were being rushed to hospital. Students said they will continue their protests until government apologizes for the violence and gives free medical treatment and compensation to injured students.

Seven student unions affiliated to five opposition parties Thursday announced new protest plans. They will burn effigies of ”regression’ in campuses Friday and hold demonstrations Sunday; they will obstruct vehicular movement Monday and hold prohibited torchlight processions Tuesday.
nepalnews.com br Dec.25