Kavre, April 7:

The district police today threatened to kill a journalist, Prakash Dahal of the local Madhya Marga Weekly, who was gathering news of the agitation of the seven political parties on the second day of the seven-party general strike.

Dahal was immersed in his work at Pulbazaar when the police cornered him. They also beat up a dozen labourers of the Bagmati Tyre Re-soling Centre and Grill Company at Pulbazaar.

“The police have threaten to kill me if I venture out on the streets,” said Dahal. He is also a member of Press Chautari. Dahal said inspector Ram Prasad Gharti Magar threatened to kill him.

The Madhya Marga Weekly and Press Chautari of Kavre, in separate statements, condemned the inspector Magar’s actions and demanded that he withdraw his threat and apologise.

Last night, security personnel arrested five students including ANNFSU district president Dipak Gautam. The five were picked up from their rooms in their hostel. ANNFSU district secretary Bipin Lama, Ganesh Luitel, Rabindra Bhurtel, Sanjeev Dahal are among the arrested.

Meanwhile, the seven political parties staged a torch rally in Banepa. The rally, which started from Chaitanya Chowk went around the city and converted into a street corner meeting at Ganesh Chowk.

Addressing the meeting, central member of the All Nepal Women’s Association, Shil Katila, and leader of NC-Democratic, Saraswati Baidhya, urged the people to go to the capital to intensify the front agitation.

Members of the Nepal Bank Staff Association (Kavre), did not join duty today.

Regional president of the association, Raghubar Chaupradhan said that association had decided not to join work today and on Sunday.