Kathmandu witnessed violent clashes on Friday as supporters of former King Gyanendra fought with the police, demanding the return of the monarchy. The police responded with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. The violence led to the deaths of two people, including a TV cameraman, and left over a dozen injured.
To control the situation, the Nepal Army was called in, and a curfew was imposed in several areas of Kathmandu, including Tinkune, Baneshwor Chowk, Koteshwor, Gaushala, and the airport area. Public gatherings and protests were banned during the curfew period. However, people traveling to the airport were allowed to go if they showed their tickets.
The protest began at 11:30 AM in the Tinkune area. When the crowd attempted to move towards the Parliament House, where protests were not allowed, the police intervened. The situation turned violent when the police fired tear gas near the stage where 87-year-old Nabaraj Subedi, the leader of the pro-monarchy movement, was seated. He was injured, and his supporters rushed to help him.
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Meanwhile, a fire broke out in a house near Gairidhara, where security forces had stationed themselves. Suresh Rajak, a cameraman from Avenues Television covering the event, was among those who lost their lives.
In response to the violence, the government issued an arrest warrant against Durga Prasai, who was leading the rally, holding him responsible for the incident.
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On the other hand, a separate rally organized by the Left Front, which opposes the return of the monarchy, was held peacefully. Former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal addressed the gathering, blaming Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s poor governance for the rise of pro-monarchy protests. They also warned former King Gyanendra that trying to reclaim the throne could have serious consequences.
