KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Activists of CPN-UML assaulted students who were in their school uniforms in Attarkhel, Gokarneshwar Municipality-8, Kathmandu.
A video that went viral on social media on Monday shows a group of UML activists, carrying the party flag, entering a shop and attacking the students.
The incident took place at Cake Corner & Bakery in Attarkhel. According to eyewitnesses and locals, the students were drinking tea in the shop while wearing their school uniforms.
At the same time, a UML rally was passing through the street. When the students saw the rally, they rang a bell, which also bore the Rastriya Swatantra Party symbol, with the intent of teasing them, provoking the UML activists.
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A local said that the altercation started after the students rang the bell, targeting the rally.
“They got angry when the students rang the bell and entered the shop to assault them. The students were slapped 2–4 times,” the local said.
The students who were beaten are in Grade 10 at the nearby East Pole School.
“They were a group of 5–6 students having tea when suddenly a UML rally group came and started attacking them inside,” the local added.
After the video went viral on social media, the police took notice of the incident.
SP Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, spokesperson of Kathmandu District Police Range, said that they have received information about the incident and are verifying the facts.
SP Bhattarai told Republica, “I am aware of the video from Gokarneshwar with the bell incident on social media. We are verifying the actual details and the context in which this happened. At this point, we cannot officially confirm the incident; investigation is ongoing.”
On social media, the act of political party activists assaulting children has faced widespread criticism from all sides.
