Student leader Bhattarai arrested

Plain-clothed security personnel on Monday have taken firebrand student leader, Khim Lal Bhattarai, from Lekhnath Marg in the capital, Kathmandu, Monday.

President of the CPN (UML)-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), Bhattarai, was arrested this afternoon from Thamel shortly after taking part in a protest rally organized by the group of eight student unions against the royal takeover of last year.

Bhattarai is being kept at the Police Training Academy at Maharajgunj, according to reports.

Hundreds of political leaders, human rights activists and media personnel have been detained across the country ahead of the municipal polls announced by the government.

The opposition parties have called to boycott the civic polls slated on February 8 saying that the exercise aims to further consolidate the direct rule of the king.

Officials, however, say municipal poll is a meaningful exercise of democracy. nepalnews.com by Jan 30 06

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