Demonstrations continues, one shot dead

Kathmandu, Apr 17 (UNI) The Nepalese Army shot dead one person and injured 12 others when they fired at 10,000 demonstrators in Bara district today.

Hiralal Gautam, 25, of Nijgadh of Bara in south Terai succumed to injuries while being rushed to a hospital in Birgunj after he was shot at by the army while demonstrating.

Thousands of people chanted anti-King slogans and demanded the end of autocratic monarchy in the Himalayan Kingdom.

Six people have been killed by the security forces during the last few days.

Army also fired on the demonstrators in Chitwan where at least four protestors were injured.

At least 100 persons were injured when demonstrators clashed with police at Chabahil in Kathmandu this evening. The injured have been admitted to OM Hospital and Medicare Hospital.

Security forces also opened fire in Chabhil in Kathmandu and injured some.

Meanwhile, the King met former prime ministers Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Surya Bahadur Thapa in the palace this evening.

Present political situation was discussed during the meeting with the King, both of them said.

Huge rallies are being taken out across the country for the last few days and the movement has been intensified after the King promised to hold elections in his new year message.

The political parties have been demanding the end of autocratic rule of King Gyanendra, who seized power in February last year, through the reinstatement of the dissolved House and formation of an interim government including the Maoists. They have also demanded holding of election of the Constituent Assembly to decide the fate of monarchy which has ruled the country for over 235 years.

More than 4,000 people had been arrested, over 1,500 are still in custody, hundreds of people were injured and six shot dead during the ongoing democratic movement.

The movement is being supported by people of all walks of life including doctors, engineers, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, business communities, government employees and civil society.

There are reports of statements pouring in from various sectors in support of the democratic movement every day.

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