Saturday, April 15 2006 15:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: At least 12 journalists were injured, six of them seriously, and four others arrested after police baton-charged scores of scribes who held a rally here today (Apr 15, 2006) demanding press freedom and democracy in Nepal.

Police indiscriminately baton-charged about 300 journalists at the peaceful rally organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) at the Gaushala area in the capital, leading to injuries to 12 of them, sources said.

"Six journalists, including FNJ General Secretary Journalists (FNJ) Mahendra Bista, were seriously injured in the incident," they said.

Former Press Council Chairman Harihar Birahi and former FNJ President Taranath Dahal were among the injured, the sources said, adding police also arrested four scribes.

The injured have been admitted to the Kathmandu Model Hospital for treatment.

The incident occurred as the journalists started the rally from the FNJ office at Tilaganga and marched about one kilometre. Police intervened before the scribes could organisea corner meeting, the sources said.

Major political parties, including Nepali Congress and Nepal Communist Party-UML, condemned the police action.

On Thursday, police also opened fire at a peaceful demonstration organised by lawyers in Babarmahal in which six lawyers sustained bullet injuries. More than 70 lawyers who were arrested were released later.

There were demonstrations in various parts of the capital amid hedavy deployment of armed security personnel despite lifting of curfew.

The demonstrations took place at Chabahil, Baneshwor, Kalanki, Gongabun and Thamel.

In Kalanki, famous student leader Gagan Thapa addressed a mass meeting and called on people to intensify the agitation to end the autocratic regime and establish total democracy.

He also criticised the government for price hike, high expenditures incurred by the royal family members and the suppression of the peaceful agitation.

There were also reports of continued demonstrations outside Kathmandu including Pokhara, Biratnagar and Chitawan.

Market prices have soared and some essential goods are not available in the shops because the highways have been blocked for the past ten days as the general strike entered the 10th day today. Vegetables and fruits imported from India have become very expensive.

Markets are only partially opened and very few vehicles plied on the roads of Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) warned the royal government against its crackdown on peaceful demonstrations across Nepal and asked it to respect national and international laws.

"The international community is eyeing on Nepal and those responsible for human rights violations should be aware that they are accountable to national and international laws for their actions," Nicholas Howen, ICJ General Secretary, aid in a statement.

Stop using excessive force to suppress protestors and stop arbitrary detention by security forces, he said.