Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 14:

Scores of protesters were arrested from different parts of the country today for staging anti-government protests. Police arrested dozens of demonstrators, including some National Assembly (NA) members, belonging to the five agitating parties who took out sporadic rallies demanding the restoration of democracy and human rights from different parts of Ason, Bhotahity and Indrachowk. Deployed in huge numbers, police rounded up NA members Mahesh Mani Dixit, Akal Bahadur Bista, Bir Bahadur Singh and former minister and central working committee member of the NC Bal Bahadur Rai and former rminister Lal Bahadur Biswakarma of CPN-UML. Singh was arrested while talking to the media, saying that their main demands were the withdrawal of emergency, restoration of democracy and press freedom.

Demonstrators belonging to NC, CPN-UML, NC(D), Janamorcha and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi), despite heavy security personnel presence, shouted slogans against the King’s February 1 move. Meanwhile, police today arrested dozens of political activists from different parts of the country, reports reaching Dipayal said. At least 12 people, who were taking part in a demonstration at the Dipayal bazaar, were arrested, a report from Dipayal said. Four activists of the NC, NC-D and CPN-UML were arrested while they were taking part in a demonstration in Tanahun. A report from Lahan said 13 persons were arrested while they were taking part in a rally.

Three political cadres were held while they were staging a demonstration at the Narayangadh

chowk in Narayangadh. Five political activists and a journalist were held while they were staging a protest in Hetauda city, said Dhruwaraspad Chaulagain, president of the Nepal Bar Association, Appellate Court Unit, Hetauda. At least five political cadres were held while they were staging a protest in Tansen today. Fifteen politicians were held while they were staging a protest at the Tribhuvan Chowk in Nepalgunj. Twenty-two political cadres, who were among the 27 political cadres arrested in Dang today, have been freed.Meanwhile, the FNJ said Dang reporter for Channel Nepal TV, Sharad Adhikari, was held in Ghorahi today. Five persons each were held in Pokhara and Rajbiraj, 41 in Gaighat and three dozen were held in Janakpur, reports said, adding that those arrested in Gaighat were released in the evening.