Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 19:

Student unions affiliated to the four agitating parties today continued their anti-price hike protests by burning tyres on the road, chanting anti-government slogans and organising chakkajams in front of different campuses.

A few students were injured when police intervened the students trying to organise a chhakajam in front of Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus. NSU cadre Budha Lama was badly injured. The police entered the campus premises and rained batons on the protesting students of Nepal Students’ Union. Prachanda Bikram Neupane, Ananda Tripathee, Dhruba Bhatta were also injured in the scuffle. They are undergoing treatment at Kathmandu Model Hospital. Nepal Police accused the the students of provoking the police by slapping a policeman who was on duty in front of the campus.

Nepal Student’s Union’s TC unit and the campus’ Free Students Union (FSU) have condemned the police’s entry into the campus premises and attack on the students. The FSU has announced a chakkajam at 9 am tomorrow in front of the campus to protest the police intervention. Similarly, the four student unions pelted stones at police and burnt tyres in front of Padma Kanya Campus in the evening. Meanwhile, ANNFSU also organised a ‘black’ protest rally at Ratnapark. It also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister with its six-point demand. The UML student wing has demanded the government to withdraw the price hike, to provide 50 per cent subsidy in kerosene to students and set up a memorial fund in memory of Devi Lal Poudel who had lost his life during protests against the first hike in the prices of the petroleum products last year.

They have also demanded 50 per cent concession to students in medical services and a thorough investigation into the reported corruption within the Nepal Oil Corporation.