KATHMANDU, Feb 26: The talks between government officials and the loan shark victims who are protesting by gathering in Kathmandu after 23 days of march from various parts of the country have been obstructed.
A scheduled meeting at 11 AM at the Ministry of Home Affairs was obstructed when police arrived at 9 AM to remove the protesters from Bhrikutimandap.
According to Neergha Nabin of Kisan Majdur Sangharsh Samiti, who is leading the street movement, the police personnel came to Bhrikutimandap where the victims were sitting and tried to remove them from there.
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"Police circle, DSP of Singha Durbar came with a letter from the district administration office. They pressured us to vacate the place where we are currently staying, saying that it belongs to the Social Welfare Council". They tried to forcibly evict us from here without providing us any alternative," he said.
On Sunday, the committee formed under the leadership of Joint Secretary Rudra Prasad Pandit held the first round of talks with the team led by Awadhesh Kushahwa, the chairman of the Sangharsha Samiti, on behalf of the loan shark victims.
After both parties heard each other's grievances, a follow-up meeting was scheduled at 11AM on Monday. However, Nabin said the police tried to disperse them just before the scheduled talks.
On Monday, the Sangharsha Samiti decided to march barefoot through Shaid Gate-New Road via Ratnapark to Bhrikutimandap.
However, after the police prepared to chase them away, Nabin said that they left the pre-arranged program and were sitting in Bhrikutimandap. On January 30, 500 victims led by Kushwaha from the east and 200 victims from the west led by Neergha Nabin marched to Kathmandu seeking justice for the loan shark victims.
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