Hundreds arrested as protesters defy curfews across Nepal Nepalese police firing tear gas and rubber bullets clashed on Sunday with thousands of pro-democracy protesters who defied a curfew despite warnings that violators could be shot, opposition parties said. A second death was reported among demonstrators demanding that King Gyanandra give up the absolute powers he seized 14 months ago. Home Minister Kamal Thapa said 253 people had been arrested on Sunday and blamed the protests on Maoist rebels. "The ongoing protest program is clearly that of the Maoists," Mr Thapa told reporters. "They are trying to create armed revolution, so the government has been compelled to impose the curfew."