Demonstrators nabbed

KATHMANDU: Police on Friday arrested at least 20 persons with 248 pieces of black T-shirts and flags for their alleged bid to protest the visit of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to Basantapur to attend the Indra Jatra festivities.

Former deputy inspector general Bijaya Raj Batta and former Nepali Army major Keshav Basnet were among the persons detained by police from New Road area.

Police said they were preparing to greet President Bhadari with black flags on behalf of ‘National Identity Protection Joint Struggle Committee’, a pro-monarchy group. They were released later after necessary investigation, police said.