Kathmandu, July 21

Dozens of Nepal Tarun Dal members were injured in clashes with security personnel during a protest rally staged here today to express solidarity with the demands of Dr Govinda KC, who has been on hunger strike since June 30 demanding reforms in medical education.

Clashes erupted along the Baneshwor-Babarmahal road section after the protestors tried to breach the prohibited zone. Security personnel had to fire tear gas shells and resort to baton charge in order to take the situation under control.

Police fired six rounds of tear gas canisters after protestors tried to march ahead removing barricades in Baneshwor.

Police were able to disperse the crowd from Baneshwor, but after a while they gathered again and started pelting stones at ministers’ vehicles.

It was later revealed that three of the vehicles targeted by the protesters  belonged  to ministers of provinces 2, 3 and 4. Social development ministers of all the  provinces had gathered there for a meeting. A police personnel deployed for the security of one of the ministers brandished his pistol at the protesters.

Security personnel then fired tear gas canisters to disperse protesters.

Nepali Congress issued a press release  condemning use of force on the protesters.

The party said more than four dozen protestors suffered injuries in today’s clash, including Tarun Dal chair Jeet Jung Basnet , Nepali Congress Lalitpur chair AmitAmatya and general secretary of Nepal Press Union Ajay BabuSiwakoti.  Police, however, said that 15 people and two police personnel suffered injuries in the incident.

Former prime minister and NC chair SherBahadurDeuba and senior leader of NC RamchandraPaudel met the injured at hospital.

The NC also warned the government that it would launch stern protests,  if the government did not bring a new medical education bill incorporating the key provisions of the ordinance introduced by the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government.