Death toll from Nepal protest violence rises to 51: Police
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Army personnel keeping watch along a street in Kathmandu on Sept 12. Nepal’s army has imposed a curfew and taken charge of the streets.
PHOTO: AFP
KATHMANDU – At least 51 people were killed during violent anti-corruption protests in Nepal this week, the police said on Sept 12 in a toll update, as the full scale of the chaos that toppled the government emerges.
Talks continue between Nepal’s president, protest representatives, key potential figures who may lead an interim administration and the army – which has imposed a curfew and taken charge of the streets.
At least 21 protesters were among those killed, mainly on Sept 8 during a police crackdown on demonstrations against a government ban on social media
On Sept 9, protesters set the parliament building ablaze, Mr K.P. Sharma Oli resigned as prime minister
Nepal’s army said on Sept 12 that it had recovered more than 100 guns looted in the uprising, during which protesters were seen brandishing automatic rifles.
Police spokesman Binod Ghimire told AFP that “51 people have died so far this week in the protests, including at least 21 protestors and three policemen”.
More than 12,500 prisoners who escaped from multiple jails
“About 13,500 prisoners had escaped – some have been recaptured, 12,533 are still at large,” Mr Ghimire said.
The dead included prisoners killed during or after their escape in clashes with the Nepali security forces.
Some of the fugitives have tried to cross the vast and porous frontier into India, where scores have been apprehended by Indian border forces. AFP
