Himalayan News Service

Janakpurdham, May 15:

Students belonging to ANNFSU and polit-icians from different parties today organised a protest rally in various districts of the country to protest the government’s gradual shift towards total autocracy.

The ANNFSU, marking the 41st Students’ Day, staged a protest rally here.

Five politicians, who had been arrested earlier, were freed on the court’s orders. Former MP and officiating secretary of CPN-UML, Dhanusha, Yognarayan Yadav, alternative central member of the same party Shivadhari Yadav, central member of Nepal Women’s Association Tulsa Acharya and central member of Nepal Peasant’s Forum aligned to NSP (Anandidevi) Dinkar Yadav were freed by the appellate court.

A report from Narayangadh said the Chitwan ANNFSU (United) took out a torch rally from near Joon Hall to Lumbini Bank Chowk. ANNFSU (U) has condemned the killing of their central member Chakrabihu Thapa by the Maoists.

A report from Surkhet said at least 16 student leaders were arrested while participating in a protest rally. The police broke up the rally.

In separate press releases, different organisations based in the district have denounced the police action against the agitating students.