Nepali Govt Downsizes Ex King Gyanendra Shah’s Security Team Amid Pro-Monarchy Protests

<p>Kathmandu, Mar 30 (PTI) The Nepal government has downsized the security team deployed for former king Gyanendra Shah, a day after pro-monarchy protests in parts of the Nepalese capital turned violent.</p>
<p>The number of security personnel at the Nirmal Niwas, the private residence of the ex-king, has been reduced from 25 to 16 after Friday’s protests, during which protesters pelted stones, attacked the office of a political party, set vehicles on fire and looted shops.</p>
<p>Two persons, including a TV cameraman, were killed and 110 others injured in the clashes between security personnel and pro-monarchy protesters, who were demanding the reinstatement of a Hindu monarch.</p>
<p>The government has also reshuffled the team of security personnel deployed for the ex-monarch, Home Ministry sources said.</p>
<p>The government has also increased vigilance on the activities of the former monarch, the sources said.</p>
<p>The Nepali Congress, the largest party in Parliament, said on Thursday that former king Gyanendra should be held responsible for Friday’s violent incidents.</p>
<p>Over a dozen properties, including business complexes, restaurants, hospitals and private and government buildings were also vandalised by protesters.</p>
<p>Former king Gyanendra was behind all the activities of pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu campaigners around the country, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, a former prime minister and the chairman of the opposition CPN-Maoist Centre.</p>
<p>However, the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party&nbsp;has demanded the release of its two leaders — Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Ravindra Mishra — arrested after the protests.</p>
<p>The party warned that it would take to the street if the two were not released within 24 hours.</p>
<p>The party held the government responsible for what happened during their demonstration in Kathmandu on Friday. PTI SBP NSA NSA</p>
<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)</strong></em></p>