Kathmandu, April 12:

At least 12 participants in the Loktantrik Srijana Yatra were arrested today from a programme at the Gurukul Theatre at Maitidevi.

Artistes, litterateurs and professionals from the Nepali film industry had participated in the programme to express solidarity with the ongoing movement for democracy.

Police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets at participants who had just begun a rally following performances that included singing, stage shows and poetry recital by Raamesh, Nandakrishna Jo-shi, Hari Bansa Acharya, Ma-dan Krishna Shrestha and various poets at the Gurukul. The rally was scheduled to proceed towards Old Baneshwor.

“While we were heading towards Old Baneswor, police fired three rounds of teargas shells and rubber bullets at us,” said Rajan Khatiwada, an artiste with the Gurukul.

Tulsi Bhattarai, RM Dangol, Yubaraj Ghimire, Bholanath Sapkota, Manoj Neupane, Deshbhakta Khanal, Thakur Belbase, Hari Gobinda Luitel, Ganesh Poudel, Raj Kumar Rai, Sanjiv Upreti and Kusum Gyawali were among the arrested.