Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 22:

The security forces today arrested Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala, leaders Dr Ram Saran Mahat and Baldev Majgaiya, CPN-UML leaders Iswar Pokharel and Rajendra Shrestha from New Road, along with hundreds of demonstrators after they took out a rally on the 22nd day of the agitation.

There was a minor scuffle when the police tried to arrest Koirala. UML leader Keshav Badal and a police inspector sustained minor injuries. The Nepali Congress (Democratic), which has been organising separate demonstration against “regression” for the last one week, took out a rally from Kalanki. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chitra Lekha Yadav, NC(D) leaders Bijay Kumar Gachhedhar, Prakash Man Singh, Kishore Singh Rathore and hundreds of demonstrators were rounded up in Kalimati and Tripureswor. The five parties have decided to continue their protest programme in Lalitpur tomorrow.

Agitators set ablaze a government motorcycle belonging to the land revenue office parked near the Exhibition Road. Areas around Exhibition Road, Shanker Dev Campus, Amrit Science College remained tense.

Meanwhile, seven student unions organised a 30-minute chakkajam in front of all the colleges in the Valley today. Thakur Gaire, secretary of ANNFSU, said traffic outside Saraswoti, Ascol, Ratna Rajya, Tribhuvan University central college, Shankardev, Mahendra Ratna and Tri-chandra campuses came to a standstill for hours. Seven students were arrested during clashes today.