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
