Clashes on Durbar Marg mar republic celebrations

Riot police encircle the statue of King Mahendra on Durbar Marg.

Early on Thursday morning people had climbed onto the statue and

tried to drape it with the national flag. After Nepal officially became

a republic on Wednesday night, the historic first sitting of the

Constituent Assembly declared the 240 year old Shah dynasty

null and void, giving the last remaining head of

the dynasty 15 days to vacate the Narayanhiti Palace.

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, May 29 - Excited crowds and riot police clashed in front of the main gate of the Narayanhiti Palace on Durbar Marg throughout Thursday after republic celebrations turned unruly.

Around a dozen persons from both sides were reported injured. Durbar Marg was the scene of frequent skirmishes today after crowds of people, euphoric with the declaration of a federal democratic republic, marched to the Narayanhiti Palace to hoist the national flag on its walls. Police had to fire tear gas to bring the situation under control after demonstrations turned violent.


The people chanted anti-King slogans demanding the king to leave the palace immediately. Elements at the head of the crowd managed to hoist the national flag on the main gate of the palace which overlooks Durbar Marg, also popularly known as King’s Way, stating that the government had delayed hoisting the national flag in the palace premises even after the royal flag was removed by palace officials early this morning.However, police personnel quickly intervened and used batons to push back the crowd and removed the flags hoisted by the demonstrators.


The demonstrators also attempted to cover the statue of King Mahendra on King’s Way with the national flag but were stopped by riot police. Early this morning, palace officials had removed the flag with the royal seal inside the palace premises at about 8 am today after the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly yesterday announced the country a republic and abolished the centuries old monarchy.


The CA meeting had also directed the king to leave the palace within 15 days. The government had earlier declared Durbar Marg a prohibited zone for all forms of rallies and demonstrations.