The United Communist Party of Nepal Maoists (UCPN-M) brought Singha Durbar — the secretariat that houses the Prime Minister’s office and important ministries — to a halt as they began their two-day secretariat gherao rally aimed at restoring ‘civilian supremacy’.

Thousands of Maoist supporters from different parts of the country surrounded the secretariat in the morning and stopped anyone from going inside. Only four ministers and few employees had managed to enter the secretariat before 8 am.

As the Maoists defied prohibitory orders and did not heed to police warning, riot police lobbed tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets in two areas in the capital.

Several Maoist parliamentarians and party workers sustained injuries. Maoist leader K B Mahara, however, pacified agitated workers who were in a mood to retaliate.

The objective of the movement is to restore civilian supremacy — that in the current context means seeking an apology from President Rambaran Yadav for having annulled the cabinet decision of sacking then Army Chief R Katawal in early May. The rally, however, turned into an agitation demanding removal of the Prime Minister as Maoist supporters shouted slogans of “puppet Prime Minister resign”.

Party chief Prachanda and former Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal sat in dharna in front of the Army Headquarters.

“We want this brought under effective control of Parliament, and that is what this movement is all about,” said coordinator of the movement and Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai.

While Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal did not go to the secretariat saying he was unwell, Home Minister Bhim Rawal was criticised by fellow ministers for his absence.

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