Himalayan News Service

Pokhara, March 29:

The agitation announced by Nepali Congress (NC) continued today with reports of party workers taking to the streets in Parsa and Surkhet, Dang and many other places across the country. A press statement issued by the party in the capital said that police rounded up dozens of party workers who were involved in peaceful demonstrations. Police released NC cadres Manilal Gurung (83) and Tarka Bahadur KC this afternoon. They were arrested yesterday while on a sit-in at the main gate of District Administration Office, Kaski. However, NC cadre Ramchandra Tripathi was arrested, said Chandramani Poudel, the joint-secretary of NC, Kaski. Meanwhile, Tanahun police released 13 NC workers today out of the 18 who were detained during a demonstration yesterday. Those who were released are Udit Poudel, Ramdev Pantha, Sooryabhakta Bhandari, Rudra Bahadur Sen, Raghunath KC, Sundar Adhikari,

Ganesh Bahadur Pant, Juktaraj Wagle, Bishnu Prasad Shrestha, Indra Bahadur Darai, Narnath Kafle, Poornachandra Khanal and Lalkrishna Poudel.

Likewise, NC president of Tanahun Raghunath Poudel and other NC workers Hari

Wagle, Dhurwa Kumar Shrestha and Bidhut Keshari Neupane were sent to jail for three years, stated the local administration office. Ten political workers of NC and NC-D were arrested during a demonstration in Surkhet today. Those arrested are Kamalraj Regmi, Ananta Poudel, Shiva Prasad Gautam, Padamdev Giri, Laxman Rana, Top Bahadur Rawat, Lalbir Bhandari, Bhishma Hamal, SP Upadhaya and Kashiram Jaishi. Seven human rights organisations by issuing a press release today have condemned police action on politicians during the demonstration. According to our Dang correspondent, nine student leaders, including the district president of Nepal Students Union, Dang were held during a demonstration.