At least one person was killed and several others were injured after security forces tried to control a pro-monarchy mob vandalizing and setting fire to buildings, markets, and shops in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on Friday, March 28.
The security forces later declared curfew in parts of the city prohibiting movement and gathering of people. The areas affected by the violence include Tinkune, Koteshwar and Gaushala near the airport, Kathmandu Post reported.
Reports claim that a protest organized to demand restoration of monarchy in the country tried to breach the police barricade and turned violent. They started attacking nearby buildings, looted markets and set on fire several properties in Tinkune and nearby areas.
The mob also attacked and tried to burn the party office of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) or CPN (US) located at Baneshwar.
CPN (US) is one of the main opposition parties in the Nepalese parliament and has been part of governments in the past. Madhav Kumar Nepal, its founder and chairman, served as prime minister of the country between 2009 and 2011 and was part of the anti-monarchy movement in the country.
Monarchy in Nepal was abolished in 2008 after a long popular resistance movement. A secular, democratic republic has been established since then. However, a small number of royalists have started to demand the restoration of monarchy in the country claiming the democratic system has given birth to corruption and inefficiency.
The Nepalese press claims that Friday’s protests were led by leaders of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), a right-wing pro-monarchist grouping backed by big business houses in the country.
In a statement CPN (US) condemned the vandalism calling it a “mischief of criminal fanatics who call themselves royalists.” It also accused the government of failing to take appropriate action to provide security despite being informed about the incident on time.
Speaking to Peoples Dispatch, Ashesh Ghimire, politburo member of the CPN (US) claimed that the attack was carried out by the forces “who are trying to establish a gangster rule” in the country.
Ghimire claimed that since CPN (US) has always been in the forefront of resistance against the capitalists and its compradors they want to scare us through such hooliganism. He said his party with the support of people of Nepal will not let such forces succeed and will continue to wage battles to save the country’s “democratic and republic movement.”
