Pro-monarchy demonstrators scuffle with Nepal police during a protest to press  for reinstatement  of monarchy, in Kathmandu, on Friday AFP

Agencies KATHMANDU

A wave of outrage gripped Nepal's media community following the death of Avenues TV journalist Suresh Rajak, who was reportedly burned alive on Friday during a violent pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune, Kathmandu. Journalists across the city on Saturday converged on Nepal's Maitighar Mandala to stage a mass protest, demanding justice and accountability for the heinous crime.

Witnesses,  including Television journalist Ramkrishna Bhandari, described how protesters targeted media personnel, threatening violence and setting fire to property. "They were saying that we will also attack the media, we will set fire, we will not spare you," he recounted, detailing the destruction of office equipment and the escalating tension that culminated in Rajak's death.

Meanwhile, the curfew order, imposed since 4.25 pm on Friday, was  lifted at 7 am on Saturday in Nepal's Baneshwar-Tinkune stretch and surrounding areas. As many as 105 pro-monarchy agitators  allegedly involved in arson and vandalism  have been arrested.

Those arrested included the general secretary of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Dhawal Shumsher Rana and a central member of the party, Rabindra Mishra. Durga Prasai, the key person behind Friday's violent demonstration, is at large. Superintendent of Police of Kathmandu District Police Range Apil Bohara said.

According to the police, 53 police personnel, 22 Armed Police Force personnel and 35 protestors were injured in Friday's incident. The government decided to revoke former King Gyanendra Shah's state privileges and cancel his passport, accusing him of inciting violent protests, myrepublica.com reported.

The protesting monarchists were demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and a Hindu kingdom. The demonstration turned violent after Prasai, the convenor of the agitation, broke the security barricade, riding a bulletproof vehicle, and headed towards Baneshwor, where the Parliament building is located.

Nepal's political parties through a Parliament declaration abolished the 240-year-old monarchy in 2008 and turned the erstwhile Hindu kingdom into a secular, federal, democratic republic. The monarchists have been demanding the restoration of the monarchy since the former king appealed for support in a video message telecast on Democracy Day (February 19).