KATHMANDU: Senior officials of Birendra Police Hospital today misbehaved with the students of Padma Kanya Campus, including the Free Students’ Union college unit president Swastika Pokharel, while they were returning after staging a rally in front of the hospital.

The students yesterday announced to demonstrate to seek justice for Suntali Dhami, a victim of rape by fellow police personnel in Achham. Since Dhami and DIG Parbati Thapa Magar, who were invited as guests at the protest programme, did not turn up, the students rallied all the way to the hospital where the victim was kept.

Talking to The Himalayan Times today, Pokharel said some students including herself were manhandled by male security personnel of the hospital.

“Even DSP Ram Chandra Rai and Inspectors pulled our college dress, Sari,” she said. “They also used abusive language during the scuffle.”

She further said, “If such senior police officials can manhandle an FSU president, who is also a member of Tribhuvan University Assembly, one can imagine what could have happened with Suntali Dhami.”

Around 150 students of PK and other campuses marched from Bagbazaar

to Birendra Police Hospital in Maharajgunj, seeking

to meet Dhami, who has been kept at the hospital, without letting anybody meet her.

Kabina Kattel, PK Campus FSU member, said, “Some half-a-dozen students from PK Campus were injured during the scuffle with the security personnel. Senior male police personnel kicked us with their boots while in custody.”

Meanwhile, the students burnt tyres before PK campus, halting transportation for an hour, demanding the release of six students including the FSU president.

According to Kabina, who was detained by security personnel, Prabina Mainali, Lalita Sunar, Laxmi Dahal and Kalpana Bhatta were also arrested by the police.

Pokharel said they will stage tougher protest programmes beginning tomorrow, against the highhandedness of the security personnel.