Kathmandu, January 21:

At least five students of the Amrit Science College (ASCOL), who are affiliated to the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), were hurt when they clashed with police. The students were protesting the attack on a student leader by a former leader of the union. Those hurt include member of the Free Students Union (FSU) of ASCOL Kiran Dhital.

Following the clash, Thamel remained tense from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. A large number of people travelling through the route were hit due to the agitation led by a faction of the union. The faction was demanding security for students.

Issuing a release earlier, the FSU of ASCOL condemned the attempt of its former FSU president of ASCOL Tendi Sherpa to murder Kamal Basnet, vice-president of the FSU, by running his car over him. The union has also accused Sherpa of being a royalist.

Vice-president Basnet claimed that Sherpa has been trying to allure him to work for him. He said Sherpa used to threaten all student leaders. “Sherpa tried to run his car over me and warned that anything could happen to me in the near future,” Basnet said.

He said the protest was “held to seek security for students and student leaders.” The government should take action against Sherpa, who has been terrorising students, he said.

Police fired over 25 rounds of tear gas shells today, Basnet said.