Kathmandu, March 1:

Five Maoist victims were injured in a clash with the police during a protest rally organised by the National Struggle Committee of the Victims of Maoists’ Atrocities here today.

Bhojraj Timilsina, co-ordinator of the committee, said the police baton-charged the participants of the rally. “We had planned to stage a sit-in in front of the Singh Durbar west gate. That would have been a peaceful protest, but the police used force to prevent us from advancing from Maitighar Mandala,” Timilsina said. Chinimaya Karki, Khadananda Dahal, Prem Prasad Ghimire, Rajendra Ghimire and Shiva Budhathoki have sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment in Bir Hospital. Protesters who had been rounded up were later dropped at their temporary camp at Tinkune.

Dilli Bahadur Khadka, 68, who sustained a minor injury on his right hand, said a police officer brandished his gun and threatened the arrested protesters inside a police van. “Police brutally beat up the protesters and behaved rudely inside inside the van,” he said.

Later, the protesters burnt tyres on the road in front of their camp, demanding treatment for the injured. Timilsina said the protests would continue until their demands are met.

They are demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation for each victim family, employment for the youths and return of all property confiscated by the Maoists.