The union cadres, who took to streets protesting the arrest of two of their friends, torched three vehicles in Chabahil area and one at Ratna Park. They staged demonstrations in front of different campuses. [break]
While two of the vehicles (Ba 1 Yan 1467 and Ba 1 Ja 8714) set on fire by irate students belonged to Nepal Telecom (NTC), one is owned by Integrated Bagmati Development Fund. They also set a police van on fire.
At Tri-Chandra College, the union cadres burnt the effigy of Home Minister Bhim Rawal accusing him of issuing arbitrary arrest warrants against their leaders. The activists and police personnel clashed with each other as the latter tried to intervene.
Over 10 NSU cadres were injured in the clash. According to Ram Prasad Adhikari, Publicity Department Chief of the union, Rajendra Banstola, Narayan Pande, Dev Kumar Koirala and Dipendra Khadka have been admitted to Model Hospital, Bagbazar. "Others have sustained minor injuries," Adhikari, who was also injured, told Republica.
According to Adhikari, police personnel have detained seven NSU students. Those arrested are Raghu Karki, Sudip Dawadi, Yubaraj Ghimire, Prabesh Khanal, Lekh Nath Poudel, Ramesh Khadka and Jeevan Niraula.
Accusing the police of suppressing their ´peaceful protests´, NSU Monday vowed to intensify the agitation. NSU has threatened to shut down the Valley on Wednesday if the arrested cadres were not released by then.
Earlier, police had arrested NSU cadres -- Bishnu Poudel and Santosh Neupane -- on the charge of attacking four students affiliated with UML´s student wing at Tri-Chandra College on on April 12. NSU has denied involvement in the attack in which ANNFSU´s Bagmati zonal secretary Samik Badal was critically injured.
District Administration Office (DAO) of Kathmandu has issued arrest warrant against three other NSU members in connection with the attack on Badal.
Police have launched a manhunt to arrest NSU central member Bhim Singh Gurung, Sanjay Yadav and Manish Koirala. NSU has demanded that DAO withdraw the arrest warrants.
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