Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, August 1

Police arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in a shootout

at Tri-Chandra College

in the Capital nearly a month ago, from Durbarmarg yesterday.

The arrested are Ein Bahadur Mahar and Samik Badal — activists of All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), student wing of the ruling CPN- UML. SP Nawa Raj Silwal, in-charge, Metropolitan Police Range Hanumandhoka said the duo has been taken into custody for further investigation.

On July 5, two students were seriously injured when students affiliated with two major ruling partners — the UML and Nepali Congress — engaged in fierce clashes following

a dispute over a tender

notice that the college

had published for a building construction of Chemistry department. The injured were Nepal

Students Union (NSU) central member, Bhim Singh Gurung, and its activist Ravi Thapa. Gurung had sustained bullet injury while Thapa was beaten up with iron rods. The NSU had been pressurising the government to bring the culprits to book saying that it was a murder bid.

The NSU has accused cadres of Youth Force - the UML’s youth wing — and ANNFSU of opening fire on its activists. The ANNFSU has been refusing the allegation. In the wake of the incident, the college administration suspended the controversial tender process. Gurung had lodged a complaint against six cadres of ANNFSU and Youth Force, including

Mahar and Badal, to police. Though the government had formed a three-member panel to probe into the incident, it is yet to submit its report.