A group of youths thrashed a traffic policeman after police obstructed locals from pulling the chariot of Rato Machindranath, defying the prohibitory order clamped to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Traffic policeman Kamal Prasad Ghimire was attacked by the unruly group at Pulchowk and is undergoing treatment at the Jawalakhel-based Alka Hospital.

According to the hospital, Ghimire has sustained injuries in his head and hands.

The clash ensued after the local administration  stopped the procession.

Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Local youths pelted stones at the police personnel for obstructing the chariot procession.

Update

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Nine arrested in connection with the beating of an on-duty policeman in Lalitpur [With the list of the arrested

Police have arrested nine people for their alleged involvement in beating up a traffic policeman on Thursday afternoon.

A team of police from the Lalitpur Metropolitan Police Range arrested nine people, who mercilessly thrashed on-duty traffic police constable Kamal Prasad Ghimire in Mangalbazar area.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Tamang, those arrested have been kept at the Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur, for further investigation.

Those arrested have been identified as Mahesh Bajracharya, 40; Prith Bindu Maharjan, 39; Ashok Kumar Maharjan, 38; Ravi Shakya, 36; Rabin Shakya, 40; Subin Shakya, 43; Dhurbaraj Bajracharya, 47; Shyam Shrestha, 32, of Bhaktapur, and Yadav Lal Kayastha, 40, of Kathmandu.

Despite the prohibitory order issued by the local administrations in the Kathmandu Valley, locals of Lalitpur had organized a chariot-pulling procession of Rato Machchhindranath Thursday afternoon.

Police had obstructed the locals who started a chariot pulling procession of Rato Machhindranath at Pulchowk, citing the prohibitory orders issued by the local administration against organizing such festivals.

But as the agitating local youths started pelting bricks and stones on police officers on duty, police used tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd.

As the police force obstructed the procession, locals beat up Ghimire. Ghimire has sustained injuries in his head and body, and is currently receiving treatment at Alka Hospital.

At least four police officers were also injured in the incident.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Tek Prasad Rai, police are investigating the case. “Those found guilty will face action,” Rai, who is also the chief of Lalitpur Police, told Republica.

Despite the prohibitory order, around 1,000 people had gathered in Pulchowk area to start the chariot pulling procession of Rato Machhindranath. The local administration had not allowed the locals to organize the procession in the view of rising COVID-19 cases in the Kathmandu Valley.