Devotees gathered to pull Machindranath Chariot clash with police

KATHMANDU- Police have fired tear gas, used water cannons and baton charged devotees gathered at Patan to pull the Rato Machhindranath chariot.

Tensions ran high after police tried to scatter hundreds of devotees gathered to celebrate the annual procession of Rato Machindranath Jatra, flouting prohibitory orders issued by local authorities to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Although local administrations have issued prohibitory orders banning religious gathering as part of containment measures to combat COVID-19, hundreds of devotees have thronged Patan to mark the festival by flouting the ban.

The clash ensued after police intervened and tried to disperse the crowd. As police cracked down on the gathering, devotees pelted stones back to the police.

According to police officials, they were trying to normalize the situation and enforce the prohibitory orders.  

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