12 hurt as students, NSP men clash

Rajbiraj, January 8:

Activists of the eight student unions, including the All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary, today vandalised a podium set up by the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) on the premises of the Kesho Anirudrawati Secondary School for a gathering. Twelve people were injured in clashes that ensued between the activists of the eight unions and NSP activists following the vandalism.

The meeting scheduled to begin at 1:30 pm could not take place due to the clashes. Rajbiraj

remained tense the whole day after the clashes.

The student activists also demolished gates erected at different places for the gathering. The students said they resorted to vandalism because the NSP had backed the King during the royal regime.

A clash occurred between the two sides when NSP activists and leaders, including the acting central chairman of the NSP, Laxman Lal Karna, staged a rally and reached near the Shiv Shankar Temple. Chairman Karna and a central member of the NSP and former minister, Rameshwor Rao Yadav, Ram Chandra Yadav of the Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), Ghana Nanda Yadav of the NSU-Democratic and Parmeshwor Yadav of the ANNFSU were among those injured.

The student activists beat up Karna and Raya Yadav and also pelted stones at the Rajbiraj Guest House, where NSP leaders were staying. They vandalised a van used by chairman Karna. Windowpanes of a police van were also shattered. “The police van arrived at the site as the NSP staged a rally without informing police administration. NSP activists pelted stones at the van,” SP Subash Chandra Chaudhari said.

Police have taken an NSP activist, Surya Narayan Mandal, under their control. “We obstructed the meeting of the NSP because it is full of regressive forces,” said the NSU central chairman, Irshad Ansari.