KATHMANDU: Hundreds of students burned a post office and hurled
stones at police, who tried to beat them back with tear gas in
fierce clashes on Kathmandu’s narrow streets Friday, the second
day of a nationwide opposition strike.
The main clashes took place in the Patan
neighborhood where students emerged in waves from alleyways,
shouting slogans and throwing bricks and stones. The students burned
a post office and motorcycle and forced police to retreat.
Police in riot gear fired tear-gas shells and
put out the post office fire.
Protesters blocked access to one of he main
streets leading to the area with furniture and other heavy objects.
Police pushed them aside and stormed in, but the students, in
hundreds, outnumbered the police who called for reinforcements.
The officers in blue, carrying truncheons and
shields, took shelter behind buildings and fired tear gas at the
approaching crowds.
The clashes broke out after a relatively
peaceful day Thursday, when the four-day antimonarchy strike
began, and at least 200 people were arrested, according to the home
ministry.
Protest organizers, however, said 300 people
were arrested and were being held without charge, or sent to prison
for three months under a tough public safety law.
--AP
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