Police intervene in a cultural programme in Kathmandu
At least two dozen people were injured when police intervened and tried to stop people from mid- and far-western region from observing ‘Gaura,’ a popular religious festival, at Tundikhel in Kathmandu on Saturday.
According to organizers, they had notified District Administration Office of Kathmandu, District Police Office and Ward Police about the programme. They had also paid rent for using ‘khula mancha,’ The Open Air Theatre, to Kathmandu metropolis, according to Kantipur daily. But police stopped them from erecting tents at Tundikhel Saturday morning citing ‘orders from the higher authorities.’ Interestingly, the organizers had invited Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi, who hails from the same region, as chief guest. Former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand was invited as a guest.
After police stopped people from gathering at the only open space in the heart of the capital, angry crowd stopped traffic at Ratna Park and Ghantaghar area for nearly two hours in the afternoon. They also chanted slogans against monarchy, according to Nepal Samacharpatra daily. Over two dozen demonstrators were injured in police baton charging.
Former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba – who hails from far-western district of Dadeldhura-- had sent a felicitation message on the occasion. Deuba is being kept under custody on charge of corruption by a controversiial Royal Commission on Corruption Control. nepalnews.com by Aug 28 05
