Tension flares as students step up agitation 

January 28, 2004
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Students continued their protests in different parts of the country on Wednesday also. Reports from districts said dozens of students have been arrested while at least half of dozen protesters have been injured in confrontation with police.

In Nepalgunj, the army had to fire shots in the air as students began pelting stones in a military vehicle in front of Mahendra Multiple Campus at 11 in the morning. Tensed students then marched city streets slamming use of use from the government.

Similar incidents were witnessed in Biratnagar where students clashed with the police. Police used several rounds of tear gas cells to disperse the agitators near Mahendra Morang Campus. Major parts of Biratnagar remain shut at the moment.

Likewise police have arrested at least 50 students in Janakpur, injuring five. Following the incident, students have announced Bandh (closure) in Janakpur Bazaar.

Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, students have staged lathi julus (stick rally) from Ratnapark this afternoon, which they said was an attempt to warn against “regression”. Hundreds of protests, with sticks in hand, marched city streets, chanting ant-King slogans.

Earlier, the students took out a torch procession from Ratna Rajya Campus and Pashupati Multiple Campus. Police have arrested Sagar Pandey, chairman of Free Students’ Union of Pashupatu Campus, it is learnt.

The agitators have warned of black outs this evening in some parts of the city if the arrested students are not released immediately. Some 40 students who were arrested during Tuesday’s protests haven’t been released yet.