Tanahun, April 5:

Protests galore, arrests and police-protesters’ clash marked torch rallies taken out by the constituents of the seven-party alliance in various districts of the country. While activists staged protests and shouted slogans against autocracy, student unions affiliated to the various parties burnt effigies of regression and made bonfires of tyres.

Police intervened in a torch rally taken out by the front of four political parties — the Unified People’s Movement Committee (UPMC)— in Tanahun on the eve of the general strike scheduled from April 6 to April 9 and arrested three persons, including the CPN(UML) district secretary.

Speaking at a street corner meeting later in Damauli main chowk, participants stressed that the ongoing stir should be made decisive. A UPMC meeting held in the CPN(UML)’s office condemned the arrest of political parties’ cadres and called for their speedy release.

A report from Charikot said that a dozen political parties’ leaders and cadres were injured when police intervened in a torch rally of the Dolakha UPMC this evening. The rally began from the Nepali Congress party office in Dolakha. Rallyists said they successfully concluded their protest despite the police intervention.

A report from Hetauda said the agitating parties staged a torch rally this evening. The rally was staged in the main market of Hetauda hours after the local administration issued the prohibitory order. Thereafter, the local administration issued a prohibitory notice to contain the general strike of the seven political parties.

In Pokhara, student wings of the political parties of Kaski district burnt effigies of regression in front of the three campuses here. The students also shouted slogans against regression. A torch rally was taken out and a protest meeting held by the Dhading UPMC in the district headquarters, Dhadingbesi, on the eve of the four-day general strike. Participants shouted slogans against the autocratic regime and demanded democracy.

The Rautahat UPMC organised protest rallies in different parts of the district. Political parties’ leaders and cadres went around the city shouting slogans. Pamphlets were also distributed, calling for making the general strike a success. A rally that started from local Garuda bazaar went round the city and later converted into a street corner meeting.

A report from Nepalgunj said that half a dozen protestors were arrested from a torch rally taken out there. Torch rallies were staged in different parts of the city.

In Rupandehi, demonstrators drove away the police who came to intervene in the torch rally of local units of the seven political parties. The rally was taken out from Pushpa Lal chowk and ended at Traffic chowk. Police tried to use force to disperse the demonstrators at Traffic chowk. Enraged, the demonstrators pelted stones at the police. Four policemen who took shelter in a shop to escape the crowd’s wrath had to be rescued half an hour later by a group of intellectuals.

In Gorkha’s district headquarters, the political took out a torch rally in support of the general strike. Five cadres of different parties were arrested.

DAO tells folks: Don’t visit capital

BARA: The Bara District Administration Office has urged people not to travel to the capital during the four-day-long general strike called by seven-party alliance.

The DAO distributed fliers signed by CDO Shanta Raj Subedi yesterday, stating that the

general strike and protest programmes called by political parties are “anti-people programmes”. The fliers also said there would be active participation of terrorists in the parties’ protest programmes.

DAO cautioned the people to stay away from the programmes as the security forces might have to take “necessary action” to control the Maoists’ infiltration in these programmes.

People were also warned against travelling to Kathmandu unless extremely necessary. The notice urged all concerned to carry on their businesses, academic institutions, run their public vehicles and do other daily activities without fear.

The DAO urged people to notify security authorities immediately if anyone threatens them to close their business, or if suspicious people are seen in the area. — HNS