Kathmandu, September 1
An indefinite curfew was imposed today in the Nepalese capital after thousands of people, protesting the killing of 12 Nepalese hostages in Iraq, set the country’s biggest mosque on fire, vandalised government offices and a former minister’s house and clashed with policemen.
The government imposed curfew from 2 pm until further notice to maintain law and order and to protect life and property, the Kathmandu district administration office said.
Thousands of angry demonstrators took to the streets of the Nepalese capital today, disrupting traffic and raising slogans against the killings before attacking the Jama Masjid, located near the Royal Palace, as the riot police used batons and tear gas to push back the angry mob.
They broke windows and set fire to carpets, furniture and parts of the mosque which was empty at that time.
The police used batons to push back the angry protesters back from the mosque and eventually sealed it. It also blocked the roads leading to the Royal Palace.
The protesters also stoned the Labour Department building in Kathmandu, shattering windows and damaging equipment.
The angry agitators vandalised the Qatar Airways office, the Kantipur Television office, the house of former minister Chiranjivi Wagley and offices of different manpower agencies in Kathmandu.
The protesters burnt documents in the offices of manpower agencies, whom they considered as responsible for taking the Nepalese to Gulf countries through illegal means.
— PTI
