Kathmandu, August 22:

Today’s session of the CPN-UML’s ninth central committee meeting condemned the government for using excessive force on students protesting against the hike in prices of petroleum products. A press statement issued by the party said some of the students at Amrit

Science College had broken their limbs and dozens of others were injured when riot police resorted to baton-charge at Shankar Dev Campus, Patan Multiple Campus, Mahendra Ratna Campus and Saraswoti Campus yesterday. Over 24 students were also arrested from various campuses in the Kathmandu Valley. The party has demanded an immediate release of all the arrested students.

“Our party strongly condemns the government for brutally beating up the students who were raising issues concerned with the people directly affected by the price hike,” said the statement. The party has also condemned the Maoists for forcibly closing tea estates in the eastern region, bombing the Reliance Mills and Jyoti Spinning Mills and closing of Uniliver Nepal. The forcible closure of the tea estates and other industries has rendered thousands of labourers jobless, said the statement. The party has also urged the Maoists not to forcibly shut down any industry and respect the labourers’ right to work.