Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 18:

The Free Students Union (FSU) of Pashupati Multiple Campus today organised a torch rally in the prohibited area at Putalisadak protesting against the arrest of six student leaders and demanded their release. Ram Kumari Jhakri, chief of publicity department of All Nepal National Free Students Union, said the government was testing the students’ patience and warned that the government would face the students’ wrath from tomorrow. “We will announce a series of protest programmes until the student leaders are freed,” she said.

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Ram Chandra Poudel, NC central committee

member, Amrit Bohara, standing committee member of CPN-UML and NC central member Nara Hari Acharya met the students leaders at the Ward Police Office, Singhadurbar. The leaders assured the students that they would also announce protest programmes against the students’ arrest and praised them for fighting against ‘autocracy.’

The eight students’ unions today announced protest programmes beginning tomorrow. Their programmes include organising a chakkajam at New Baneshwor. The student leaders were arrested on July 14 for tearing off and burning portraits of members of the Royal family.

The Kathmandu District Administration Office has ordered the police to keep the six student leaders in custody for 10 days under Public Offence Act. Meanwhile, a press release issued here today by Nepal Students’ Union said five student activists were arrested in Kailali for the torching of portraits of the members of the Royal family in the school textbooks. Also today, the Nepal Student Union Tri-Chandra Multiple campus unit announced withdrawal of closure of the campus. The students had forced closure of the campus until the student leaders arrested on July 14 were freed. The classes will resume from tomorrow.