Gyanendra’s burden

The ultimate responsibility for Friday’s deaths and destruction lies with the ex-monarch. He must pay for it.

The conduct of pro-monarchy forces during their protests in Kathmandu on Friday was not befitting members of a civilised society. Their only intent seemed to be to terrorise people and use the resulting anarchy to force the state to bend to their wishes. Due to their recklessness, at least two people have been confirmed dead. Scores of others, including members of security forces, have been wounded. People’s homes have been ransacked, businesses looted. There were targeted attacks on media houses. No way can these be called democratic political acts that are meant to garner support for a political cause. They were rather designed to sow anarchy. There can thus be no ifs and buts about this: those responsible for these crimes must be apprehended and punished.