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Nepal: 10 hurt in anti-Hindi protests

By Shirish B Pradhan in Kathmandu
July 28, 2008 14:46 IST

The ongoing protests over the use of the Hindi language during oath-taking ceremony by Nepal Vice President Parmananda Jha on Monday took a violent turn in Kathmandu when the protestors clashed with police leaving 10 people injured.

Six students, three policemen and a youth were injured when agitating students and youths clashed with the police near Amrit Science College in Kathmandu as normal life in the city nearly came to standstill, according to a private television.

Jha, formerly associated to the Madhesi People's Rights Forum, took oath in Hindi which triggered widespread agitation across the country.

The agitators also vandalised the central office of MPRF at Baneshwor area in the outskirt of Kathmandu. Some 200-250 people stormed the office of the forum, which fielded Jha for the post of vice president.

The police had to intervene to stop further damage in the office.

The agitators also burnt tyres and effigies of Jha in different places blocking major roads. Vehicular movement came to nearly a halt in most part of Kathmandu due to the protest.

Meanwhile, the eight major student unions affiliated to the ruling parties have dissociated themselves from the violent protests.

Issuing a press release they said that they have withdrawn all the protest programmes in view of the present sensitive situation.

"Seeing the vulnerable situation in the country as also the matter being taken up by the Supreme Court we have decided to withdraw the agitation," said Nepal Students Union president Pradeep Poudyal.

Shirish B Pradhan in Kathmandu
Source: PTI
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