E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 07 -

Students and people affected by the hike in fuel prices took out demonstrations in various parts of the Capital, urging the concerned authority to roll back the price hike.

Tension ran high in Chabahil area when students as well as locals jointly took out a demonstration in front of Pashupati Campus, chanted slogans against the government and Nepal Oil Corporation and subsequently torched a vehicle belonging to the Underground Water Resource Development Committee, Birgunj. 

To contain the situation, the police resorted to baton charge and arrested seven student leaders in connection with the arson and vandalism. Those arrested are Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Deepak Dhakal, Indra Bhusal and Mahesh Dhamal affiliated to All Nepal National Free Students' Union-Revolutionary and Basudev Adhikari, Bishnu Prasad Acharya and Ishwor Adhikari of Nepal Students' Union (NSU).  NSU leader Gopi Kumar Siwakoti, Nutan Bastakoti, Suraj Khadka, Jagannath Dulal, Maheshwor Aryal, among others suffered injuries in scuffles with the police.

Student unions have warned of massive demonstrations if the authorities concerned fail to roll back the price hike. "The unscientific price hike has curtailed the rights of the students and general public to use petroleum products at subsidized prices," said Manoj Baidhya, president of NSU chapter of Pashupati Multiple Campus, adding that students will not stop their street protests until the decisison is revoked.

Stating that the people are at the receiving end due to the price hike, student unions such as NSU, National Democratic Students' Union and Nepal Sadhbhawana Party  have called on the concerned authorities to withdraw the decision.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has stepped up security in view of possible demonstrations and vandalism. The office has decided to deployed a large number of riot control police in front of various campuses and other sensitive areas.

NOC revised the prices of petroleum products on Monday, citing the hike in prices in the international market and increment in transportation tax.

Posted on: 2010-12-07 08:49

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