KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Two die in pro-monarchy demonstration
Two people lost their lives during the pro-monarchy demonstration led by Durga Prasai and Nawaraj Subedi in Tinkune, Kathmandu on Friday.
Sabin Maharjan, 29, of Kirtipur Municipality-4, Gamcha, was fatally shot in the chest during a clash with police at the demonstration organized under the Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture, and Citizens’ Protection Campaign.
According to police, he collapsed after being shot and was rushed to the emergency room of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at 3:55 PM.
Curfew imposed in three areas as pro-monarchy demonstrators engage in Arson and vandalism
A curfew has been imposed in response to widespread arson and vandalism by pro-monarchy demonstratirs in various parts of Kathmandu. The District Administration Office issued the curfew order after protests by the royalist group turned violent. The Chief District Officer of Kathmandu announced a curfew in the areas of Koteshwor, Baneshwor, Sinamangal, and Gaushala.
Durga Prasai’s attempt to run over security personnel escalated violence: Home Ministry
The government has concluded that Friday’s situation worsened after Durga Prasai, the ‘commander’ of the pro-monarchy agitation, drove a vehicle with the intent to kill security personnel. This was announced at a press conference by the Home Ministry following a meeting of security chiefs. The Home Ministry condemned the demonstration as violent and regrettable.
Police searching for Durga Prasai for causing unrest in protest
Durga Prasai is currently being sought by the police after fleeing the violent protests in Tinkune. Prasai, who is believed to have secretly left the venue in a vehicle after the chaos ensued, is now a prime target for arrest.
A senior official from the Nepal Police confirmed that a police team has already reached Prasai’s residence in Bhaktapur. The official further stated that the Home Ministry had issued an order to apprehend him, citing his instigation of the violent protest as inappropriate.
Pro-monarchy protest turns violent in Tinkune
The demonstration led by the Joint People’s Movement Committee, which seeks to restore the monarchy, turned violent on Friday after protesters attempted to move beyond the designated protest area in Tinkune towards New Baneshwor.
Police responded with force, firing tear gas and deploying water cannons to disperse the crowd. The confrontation escalated when royalist supporters began throwing stones and bricks at security personnel, leading to clashes that left several people injured.
Royalist protesters snatch tear gas gun from police, one person shot
The royalist protest in Tinkune took a violent turn as demonstrators snatched a tear gas gun from security personnel during clashes with the police.
The situation escalated after protesters defied restrictions and attempted to march towards New Baneshwor. In the ensuing chaos, they attacked security forces, pelted stones, and vandalized buildings. Police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the crowd, but tensions continued to rise.
Shortly after the demonstration was disrupted, protesters set fire to a house in Tinkune. When a fire engine arrived to control the blaze, it was also attacked with stones.
House set on fire in Tinkune following royalist protest
A house in Tinkune, Kathmandu, was set on fire following the disruption of the royalist demonstration on Friday. The house, located in the protest area, was seen burning shortly after the demonstration was broken up by security forces. Before the fire, royalist demonstrators had reportedly thrown stones at the building, shattering most of its glass windows.
Live footage from media outlets covering the protest showed flames engulfing parts of the house. However, it remains unclear who was responsible for the arson. The situation in Tinkune remained tense as police continued efforts to control the unrest.
Durga Prasai urges protesters to continue amid escalating violence
Durga Prasai, the self-proclaimed commander of the royalist movement, has called on supporters to continue the protest despite his absence from the site.
In a Facebook post, Prasai urged demonstrators not to stop the movement, even if he and other leaders were not physically present. He accused the police of using force to suppress the rally, claiming that security forces secretly fired tear gas and used batons to prevent the event from taking place.
SC refuses to issue interim order in favor of Kulman Ghising
The Supreme Court has refused to issue an interim order in favor of Kulman Ghising, who was dismissed as the Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on Monday.
A single bench of Justice Abdul Aziz Musalman did not grant Ghising’s request for an interim order. Ghising had approached the court on Thursday, arguing that the government’s decision to remove him was unjust. However, the court’s refusal to intervene has cleared the way for newly appointed Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya to continue in the role. The bench has decided to keep the case under review and will hear arguments from both sides on Sunday.
Home Ministry convenes emergency meeting as pro-monarchy protests escalate
The Home Ministry held an emergency meeting after protests by a pro-monarchy group turned violent. The meeting, led by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and attended by the Home Secretary and security officials, focused on the deteriorating security situation.
Durga Prasai’s vehicle vandalized after attempting to break restricted area
The vehicle of Durga Prasai, the ‘commander’ of the Joint People’s Movement Committee formed to restore the monarchy, was vandalized in Tinkune, where royalists held a protest.
Prasai, who is also a medical entrepreneur, attempted to break through a restricted area when the incident occurred. Prasai’s vehicle (Bagmati 027 Cha 3647) was damaged during the confrontation.
Police fire tear gas as royalists attempt to move from Tinkune
Police fired tear gas after a royalist demonstration, organized by the Joint People’s Movement Committee to restore the monarchy, attempted to move beyond its designated location.
The royalist group, which had been instructed by the local administration to stage the protest at Tinkune, tried to advance towards New Baneshwor. In response, the police fired dozens of tear gas shells to prevent them from moving forward.
Prachanda warns former King against reversing history, says people’s generosity is not weakness
Chairman of Maoist Center, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, has warned former King Gyanendra Shah not to mistake the generosity of the people and political parties for weakness.
Speaking at a program organized by the Socialist Front at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu on Friday, he cautioned the former king not to attempt to reverse history.
“Do not mistake the generosity of the Nepali people and political parties for weakness,” Prachanda said. “If you make another mistake, you will have nothing left to suffer. Be careful.”
HoR meeting postponed until March 30
The House of Representatives (HoR) meeting has been postponed without taking place and is now set to reconvene at 11 am on March 30. On Friday, Speaker Devraj Ghimire held talks with the chief whips of both the ruling and opposition parties, but no consensus was reached.
Opposition parties have been blocking the session, demanding an explanation from Prime Minister KP Oli regarding the removal of Kulman Ghising from the Electricity Authority. However, Prime Minister Oli has shown no intention of responding.
PM Oli to address Parliament on Kulman’s removal
An agreement has been reached for Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli to address Parliament on March 31 to resolve the ongoing obstruction.
The agreement came after discussions between the chief whips of the main opposition, opposition parties, and the ruling party, including Speaker Devraj Ghimire, on Friday.
On Monday, the Council of Ministers had dismissed Kulman Ghising from his position as Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority.
National Assembly meeting obstructed
Today’s meeting of the National Assembly (NA) was adjourned for one hour due to an obstruction by opposition lawmakers.
NA Chair Narayan Prasad Dahl postponed the session after lawmakers from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) disrupted the proceedings, demanding a response from the Prime Minister.
Earlier, lawmaker Tul Prasad Bishwakarma had called for the Prime Minister’s reply regarding the decision to remove Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Jhalanath displeased with Socialist Front for excluding him as speaker
Jhalanath Khanal, the leader of Unified Socialist Party, did not participate in the Maoist Center-led Socialist Front’s program after being excluded from the list of speakers.
Khanal expressed his dissatisfaction after not being included as a speaker at the public meeting organized by the Socialist Front at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu on Friday. In response, Khanal chose to refrain from attending the event.
Only four leaders were selected to speak at the public meeting: Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Unified Socialist Party Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepal Socialist Party Chairman Mahindra Ray Yadav, and CPN Chairman Netra Bikram Chandra Biplav.
Oli-led govt will not protect Constitution: Mahendra Raya Yadav
Nepal Samajwadi Party Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav has stated that the government led by CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli will not protect the Constitution.
Speaking at a protest rally organized by the Socialist Front in Kathmandu on Friday, Yadav expressed his belief that this government will not safeguard the Constitution or the republic.
Yadav said, “Federalism is under attack from multiple fronts. Efforts are being made to dismantle federalism in the country. If federalism is abolished, it could lead to conflict.”
Four Nepali pilgrims killed in road mishap in India
Four people from Tulasipur in Dang district died in a road accident in India while on a pilgrimage to various holy places there.
The accident took place when a jeep (UP 31 AC 7200) met with an accident at Baharaich of India on Thursday evening in course of heading towards India from Tulasipur for pilgrimage.
Police place barricades on main roads as protests unfold in Kathmandu
Nepal Police erected barricades on key roads in Kathmandu to manage security concerns as two major protests took place in the capital today.
To prevent possible confrontations between the royalists and the CPN-Maoist-led Socialist Front, police blocked the main road in front of the Civil Hospital in New Baneshwor.
Similar barricades were placed in front of the Survey Department at Min Bhavan, restricting traffic flow to only the right and left auxiliary lanes. The security measures came as royalist supporters gathered in Tinkune while the Socialist Front held a separate demonstration at Bhrikutimandap.
Police submit report on Siraha Dalit family’s house demolition to govt attorney
The Nepal Police have submitted their investigation report to the District Government Attorney’s Office regarding the demolition of a Dalit family’s house in Aurahi Rural Municipality-5, Siraha.
The house of Dipak Malik, a member of the Dom community, was demolished to make way for the Bishnu Mahayagya, a religious event set to begin on March 30. The incident, which occurred on February 22, has been widely condemned as an act of caste-based discrimination.
Gold price breaks record, reaches all-time high today
Gold has set a new record, reaching its highest price ever today (Friday). The price of gold surged by 1,400 rupees per tola, setting an all-time high of 176,200 rupees per tola.
This marks the highest price ever recorded for gold. Both gold and silver prices, which rose yesterday (Thursday), have continued to climb today, according to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Federation.
HoR meeting postponed again
The scheduled meeting of the House of Representatives at 11 am on Friday was postponed due to a lack of agreement among political parties. A notice was posted rescheduling the session for 1:15 PM the same day, according to Speaker Devraj Ghimire’s secretariat.
This marks the second consecutive delay, as Thursday’s meeting was also postponed for the same reason. The deadlock continues as parties struggle to reach a consensus, further stalling parliamentary proceedings.
Local govt.’s role crucial for agricultural development
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, emphasized the vital role of local governments in advancing the agriculture sector. Minister Adhikari assured that recommendations from local levels would be incorporated into agricultural development plans.
Teenage girl’s body found buried in Ilam, husband in custody
The body of 19-year-old Bimala Kattel, who had been missing for 15 days, was discovered buried in Phakphokthum Rural Municipality-3, Ilam.
According to DSP Man Bahadur Rai, Kattel’s remains were found in a location called Golai. Authorities are in the process of exhuming the body, after which legal procedures and further investigation will proceed. Following the discovery, police have taken Kattel’s husband, Umesh Giri, into custody.
Birgunj customs sees imports worth Rs 390 billion in eight months
Imports amounting to over Rs 390 billion took place via the Birgunj customs in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. The imports are more by 11.40 percent (Rs 39.92 billion) in the corresponding period last fiscal year.
According to Birgunj Customs Office Chief Customs Administrator, Dipak Lamichhane, the imports of petroleum products, raw soybean oil and motor vehicles were relatively high in the current fiscal year.
Petroleum products (five types) of worth over Rs 122 billion were supplied into the country in between July 16 and March 13. The amount was Rs 120.53 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai meets President Paudel
Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti) Chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai held talks with President Ram Chandra Paudel today at Sheetal Niwas. During the meeting, they discussed the current situation of the country.
After the meeting, Bhattarai shared his thoughts, stating, “As the guardian of the country, I felt that the President sincerely desires the resolution of the political, economic, social, strategic, and administrative issues that naturally arise in a democratic state through mutual dialogue and consensus among political leaders.”
Hospital constructed in Upper Mustang; lacks medical equipment and staff
A five-bed basic hospital has been built in the Lomanthang rural municipality of Upper Mustang, but it is still lacking essential medical equipment and human resources. The two-and-a-half-story hospital was constructed with joint funding from the rural municipality and the federal government under the Integrated Health Infrastructure Development Program.
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