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Curfew was imposed in Kathmandu on Monday.
The city's chief district officer declared curfew from 4 pm Monday till 5 am on Tuesday, after mobs clashed repeatedly with the police and the army at several city corners. The protestors were shouting slogans against the new King, Gyanendra, Prime Minister G P Koirala and others.
Police squads were roaming the city streets to announce the curfew. An announcement over official television said local security personnel have been given shoot-at-sight orders.
The city is under siege. The army has been deployed along with a large number of policemen.
Military men in battle fatigues have taken over every important road crossing, with sharp shooters taking positions on road intersections.
Scared residents and tourists were rushing home as the city gets ready for the funeral of King Dipendra, who was officially declared dead Monday morning. King Dipendra is accused of killing his father King Birendra, mother Queen Aishwarya, his brother and sister, and eight others.
The people do not believe the police version that Dipendra killed his family. They believe that it was a larger conspiracy which saw the wiping out of the royal family. They also accuse King Gyanendra and his son Paras of being part of the conspiracy.
Officials in the Nepal government said the curfew has been clamped fearing the situation would worsen by Monday evening, when King Dipendra's funeral will take place.
The body of Dipendra would be taken from the military hospital in a procession to Pashupatinath temple.
Pitched battles were fought between the protestors and the police mostly around the palace. At least one person was injured in police firing near the military hospital during the coronation of King Gyanendra.
At Thamel, a busy shopping centre, which is popular among tourists, protestors and police fought a pitched battle for over three hours. Several rounds of teargas shells were fired by the police. An unspecified number of people were injured.
On the eastern flank of the Palace compound, close to the Indian embassy, crowds also clashed with the police. Here too several rounds of tear gas were fired. The T-point junction in front of Hotel Ambassador, also close to Indian embassy, had turned into a battlefield.
Death of a Monarch: The Complete Coverage
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