KATHMANDU: A violent clash during a teachers’ protest in the federal capital on Sunday left 26 individuals injured, including teachers, police officers, and a journalist.

The unrest unfolded when protesting teachers broke through a security barricade and attempted to enter the restricted area near New Baneshwor, the location of Nepal’s federal parliament building. Thousands of teachers, gathered from across the country, had been marching through the streets of Kathmandu when tensions escalated, leading to the breach of security lines. The resulting skirmish left five police officers, one journalist, and 20 teachers injured.

Superintendent of Police Apil Raj Bohara, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Police Range, confirmed the number of injuries. The injured individuals are currently receiving medical treatment at various hospitals throughout the Kathmandu Valley. In an effort to control the situation, police deployed water cannons to disperse the agitated demonstrators.

Among the injured was Sabina Karki, a reporter with Prime Television, who suffered serious injuries to her right eye after being struck by water from the cannon.

The teachers’ protest, now in its third week, continues despite repeated assurances from the government that their concerns will be addressed. The protesters are calling for the formulation of a new school education act, which would replace the outdated law from the party-less Panchayat era. Teachers’ unions and associations contend that the government has failed to honor previous agreements signed with them on three separate occasions.

In parliament, lawmakers have called for urgent action to address the legitimate demands of the teachers.