Kathmandu, May 18:

Defying prohibitory orders issued by the government, agitating students, many of whom were affiliated to the All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary, climbed atop the statue situated in front of the main gate of Singha Durbar today, tore the cloth draping it and smashed its crown with bricks.

Representatives of many organisations had taken part in the warning rally organised by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN). While Janajatis were calling on the House declare Nepal a secular state, senior members of the civil society were staging a sit-in at Bhadrakali. The agitators ended their programmes right after FM stations aired the historic declaration.