C T Online Desk: Youths took to the streets across the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal’s most developed region, for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, defying curfew orders imposed after the previous day’s deadly demonstrations.
At least 19 protesters were killed, while over 400 protesters sustained serious injuries after the police used “excessive force” during the protest against social media ban and corruption on Monday.
The social media ban has since been revoked and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has ordered an investigation into the deadly violence, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths.
Earlier, the United Nations demanded a swift and transparent probe into the related deaths from the use of “disproportionate force” by police.
On Monday, police used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and batons when the demonstrators pushed through barbed wire and tried to storm into a restricted area near parliament.
To protest against Monday’s police action, demonstrations took place in Kalanki, Chapagaun and other places of the Kathmandu Valley from early morning on Tuesday.
Police arrested a few protesters in front of the Federal Parliament building.
Authorities have enforced indefinite curfews across Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts of the Valeey.
The orders prohibit all movement, gatherings, rallies, processions, meetings and sit-ins.
Despite the restrictions, youths spontaneously gathered near the Parliament building in New Baneshwar on Tuesday morning. They carried no banners. “Yesterday’s incident exposed the government’s failure. I came here to stand with the youths,” one participant said.
Leaders from both ruling and opposition parties criticised the government’s response, saying the tragedy reflected its repressive measures.
