Nepal

13 hurt in clashes in Baluwatar

13 hurt in clashes in Baluwatar

By Tika R Pradhan

Cadres of Federal Alliance formed by the Madhesi and Janajati forces clash with police nduring a sit-in outside PMu0092s residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Photo: THT

Kathmandu, May 17 At least 13 people, including 11 protesters, were injured when police clashed with demonstrators while the agitating Federal Alliance cadres were protesting outside the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar today. After FA learnt that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was functioning from his official residence in Baluwatar while the agitators were picketing Singha Durbar, the FA had decided to picket the PM’s Baluwatar residence today. Those injured include central committee members of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSF-N) Manju Ansari, Purna Bahadur Basnet, Ramesh Rai and Bishnu Jung Basnet, besides Dayaram Rai, Yagya Kumar Rai, Prakash Rai, Ranjit Goswami, Ganesh Prasad Yadav, Prithvi Bahadur Karki and Puspa Sah. They were treated by a medical team present on the spot and are said to be out of danger. According to police, assistant sub-inspectors Rabindra Dulal and Pramod Raut were injured when police clashed with protesters who tried to enter the prohibited zone at Italian Chowk of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Both the injured ASIs were rushed to Nepal Police Hospital in Maharajgunj for treatment. Police, meanwhile, seized 150 sticks from the demonstrators. The alliance of 29 parties, including the constituents of United Democratic Madhesi Front, resorted to fresh protest to pressure the government to meet their demands regarding the provisions in the new constitution. Their 26-point demands include provisions for proportional representation and rewriting of the recently promulgated constitution, which Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has been flatly denying. Addressing a corner meeting organised while picketing Baluwatar today, Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhawana Party said the Federal Alliance was forced to launch Kathmandu-centric struggle after the government ignored their demands even after killing 58 people during their six-month struggle. According to spokesperson for the FA’s Joint National Movement Deployment Main Committee, Parshuram Tamang, the Federal Alliance will organise a gathering at Shanti Batika at 2:00pm on Wednesday to announce its agitation plan.