Baglung, April 14

One hundred and nine persons including 14 journalists were arrested for holding pro-democracy rallies by defying prohibitory orders issued by the district administration office in Baglung today.

Police arrested them from the rallies called by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Dhaulagiri chapter, the Baglung Jaycees and women. Fifty detainees including 14 journalists, the members of the Jaycees and and some women were, however, released in the evening.

Agitating political parties continued demonstrating in Baglung by defying prohibitory orders. Business houses and educational institutes remained closed while vehicles kept off the road. Work in government corporations, companies and offices also came to a halt due to the strike.

Staffers of the Nepal Telecom, Nepal Bank Ltd, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Agriculture Development Bank and the Nepal Electricity Authority have been taking to the streets for the last two days. Employees of the Baglung Municipality also issued a press release expressing solidarity with the movement for democracy.

In Pokhara, tourism entrepreneurs staged a rally in support of the general strike. In Tanahu, protesters seized a milk tanker, two motorbikes and two microbuses for plying during the general strike. They also manhandled a tanker driver. Meanwhile, people from 15 indigenous nationalities including Kusunda, Darai, Bote, Durra, Magar, Gurung and Kumal participated in a pro-democracy rally in Tanahu.

In Hetaunda, local administration clamped a daytime curfew in Hetaunda municipal area from 9 am to 6 pm, while the night was still intact. The seven-party alliance has decided to hold protests tomorrow defying the curfew.

In Syangja, party leaders accused the army of arresting and thrashing five of their cadres involved in a pro-democracy rally Yesterday. The parties said the army arrested and beat them up on false charge of being Maoists. They condemned the incident and demanded their immediate release.

Five cadres of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) were taken into custody by the RNA from Badkhola when they were returning home after participating in a rally last evening.

The arrested cadres are Pawan Nepal, Ishwor Regmi, Arjun Rana, Ram Kaji Rana and Rajendra Regmi. The political parties continued their demonstrations today.

In Nawalparasi, women took to the streets throughout the district. They also defied prohibitory orders in the district headquarters Parasi. In Gaindakot, women held a rally by carrying dinner plates, doko and namlo.

In Bara, parties held a corner meeting. On the occasion, Dr Mohan Jaisawal, a resident of Ganjabhawanipur, announced a donation of Rs 51,000 to the fund set up for the treatment of protesters injured during pro-democracy demonstrations.

In Nepalgunj, people from various walks of life, including representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (Banke chapter), Teachers’ Unions and Lord Buddha Education Academy Employees’ Association took part in a rally organised by PAPAD, a network of professional organisations.

Starting from the Tribhuvan Chowk, the rally converted into a street corner meet at the BP Chowk after passing through Gharbari Tole and Birendra Chowk. People at different places hailed the rallyists. The agitators also erased the word “Royal” from the signboard of the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation its regional office in Nepalgunj.

Addressing the meet, president of the Teachers’ Union (Banke), Balram Yadav, said schools would remain shut until democracy was restored. “We have decided not to check the SLC answer papers,” he said.