20140720 Nepal Tri-Chandra student unions clash; library set on fire
Nepal Jul 20 2014 “Schools”
Dead : --- Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 1 to 9
Tri-Chandra student unions clash; library set on fire
Updated: 2014-07-20-21:45
KATHMANDU: BP Library of Tri-Chandra Campus has been reduced to ashes after it was set on fire following a clash between cadres of Nepal Students Union (NSU) and All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) – affiliated to Nepali Congress and CPN-UML respectively.
Around 4,000 books and 2,000 theses were gutted in the blaze, according to students. However, details of the damage are yet to be ascertained. Three fire engines doused the fire that broke out around 1:00 pm.
“It took about half-an-hour to extinguish the inferno. Books and furniture in the library have all been reduced to ashes,” informed Kishor Kumar Bhattarai, Chief of Kathmandu Fire Brigade.
NSU has accused ANNFSU of setting the library on fire, while ANNFSU has denied any involvement in the arson.
A clash had ensued after an ANNFSU cadre was attacked with a khukuri, allegedly by the cadres of NSU, while the former was studying at the campus library at Saraswati Sadan.
Injured in the attack, Prem KC, 22, of Bardiya, who has a deep cut on the head and minor injuries in both arms, is receiving treatment at Kathmandu Model Hospital.
“NSU cadres led by Kamal Buda, attacked KC with a khukuri,” ANNFSU Spokesperson RC Lamichhane said. According to him, KC, a BSC second year student of the campus was studying in the library when the attack took place. “We have demanded that the concerned authorities take action against persons involved in the attack,” he said adding, “If they fail to do so, we will be forced to retaliate.”
Bishnu Poudel, president of Free Students Union (FSU), Trichandra Campus, and also chairperson of NSU, Tri Chandra Campus Chapter, argued that ANNFSU has politicised a ‘personal’ issue. “The duo had personnel enmity But ANNFSU itself made the issue as organisational dispute and set fire to the library and vandalised the FSU office.”
Meanwhile, issuing a press release, NSU condemned today’s incident at Tri-Chandra Campus. “We want to make it clear there was no NSU involvement in the Khukuri attack,” Shiva Rimal, Chief Secretary of NSU stated. NSU has also demanded probe into the case and to bring the guilty to book.
Police said they have seized a sharp weapon from the site and the man allegedly involved in the attack is at large. “Search for the absconder and further investigation into the case are underway,” said SSP Hemanta Pal.
Websource:The Himalayan times
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