UML leaders were scheduled attend the programme
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 19
Simara has been agitated since noon today. The youth association affiliated with the CPN-UML had planned a programme for central leaders to participate in the awareness campaign in Bara Parwanipur. CPN-UML leaders, including Shankar Pokharel and Mahesh Basnet, were scheduled to attend the programme in Simara at noon.
Meanwhile, a fight broke out when CPN-UML supporters attacked Gen Z youth who had gathered peacefully to protest. Simara has become tense following the clash.
Jitpursimara Sub Metropolitan City Mayor Rajan Paudel, speaking with THT, shared that the Gen Z youth had just gathered to protest peacefully around 10 o'clock in Simara. Samarat Upadhayay, who is leading the Gen Z group, Bara, and others were present at the scene. "However, UML cadres beat up Samrat Upadhayay and others. They were injured, which led to tension in Simara. Following that, Simara residents have come out in support of Gen Z youth," he said. "They were beaten in front of the police. A curfew has been imposed, but Simara's youth and residents have turned out in large numbers to condemn the attack."
Gen Z leader Samrat Upadhyay, 21, a local resident of Simara, Bara, told THT that 10-12 people, including him, had gathered peacefully to protest, but CPN-UML cadres attacked them brutally, injuring seven.
"Firstly, they stopped us from protesting, then launched an attack on us in front of over a thousand police personnel. Even police launched a baton charge on us and protected UML cadres," he told THT. "At least seven of us have been injured. I have sustained injuries on my head, forehead, back and face."
Upadhyay, who is also the leader of the Gen Z group Bara, stated that they had gathered to protest against the government, which had committed a massacre on September 8, killing college and school kids in their school uniforms. "Once again they attacked us even before the protest started," he added.
"Thus, our demand is simple – arrest Mahesh Basnet and UML cadres who launched a brutal attack on us today, injuring at least seven of us. Bara will remain close until our demands are met."
Injured Gen Z youth includes Samrat Upadhyay, Sujal Pathak, Sheikh Saphid, Ramesh Bhandari, Saurav Rimal and others.
Youth in several videos resurfacing on social media have stated, "We are ready to face the bullets, but we will not rest until the alleged people are booked."
In the midst of the unrest, Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra announced that a curfew had been imposed from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Kapil Kharel, 28, a Gen Z leader from Bara, told THT that the curfew has been lifted but on the condition that the attackers must be booked by Thursday.
"We have lodged a complaint with the District Police Office, Bara, to bring the culprit to justice. There will be a bigger protest on Thursday if the attackers are not arrested."
When asked, 'Who are the alleged individuals? He said, "There were three ward chairpersons from CPN-UML, the municipal committee leader, and a few other UML cadres from the district."
Dhan Bahadur Shrestha, Kaimudin Ansari, and Sunil Gupta are UML leaders who have been elected as ward chairpersons in Jitpursimara, and Trilok Shah Thakuri, President of the CPN-UML Municipal Committee, was also present at the scene.
Prior to the situation resuming control, the District Administrative Office of Bara issued a notice stating that security personnel would facilitate the movement of essential service vehicles, ambulances, fire engines, hearses, health workers' vehicles, media personnel, tourist vehicles, vehicles of human rights and diplomatic missions, and air passengers with air tickets during the curfew.
CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and other leaders, including Basnet, have returned from Tribhuvan Airport following the tension in Simara, Bara.
Meanwhile, CPN-MC Jitpursimara condemned the attack on youth who were exercising their constitutional rights.
According to a statement issued by the CPN-MC's Jitpursimara Sub Metro Committee, while the incident is unfortunate, it is concerning to see disinformation alleging CPN-MC involvement in the attack. The statement has clarified that the CPN-MC was not involved in today's Simara incident.
They have also stated that several leaders of CPN-UML were present at the scene where the attack occurred. The police were also present at the time of the attack on Gen Z youth, as per the statement.
