Kathmandu, Apr 14: Police in Kathmandu arrested over 150 protesters yesterday, including professors and doctors, as thousands defied a ban on rallies designed to halt a wave of pro-democracy demonstrations, protest organisers said.
The protesters, staging their 13th day of demonstrations, shouted: "We want democracy, down with autocratic rule."
The five major opposition parties and student groups have vowed to continue the protests until elected rule is restored by King Gyanendra, who dismissed the elected government in October 2002 and effectively took over power. Eighty of those arrested today were women who were bundled into police vans, some pulled by the hair, witnesses said.
Officials at police headquarters were not responding to telephone calls as it was shut for a public holiday to mark Nepal's new year.
The protesters have been fanning out across the ancient temple-studded city to make it harder for security forces to enforce the ban on gatherings of more than five people. Chief protest organiser Gopal Shrestha said some 14,000 people had turned out to protest on the streets today.
"Similar protest marches were also held in various districts outside Kathmandu and there were several arrests there," Shrestha said.
It was not possible to verify the numbers independently.
Bureau Report