KATHMANDU, Sept 4: Former Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was detained on Sunday along with dozens of other political activists when police used tear gas to disperse a crowd at a pro-democracy demonstration, witnesses said.

The 82-year-old Koirala, who has led Nepal’s oldest political party, the Nepali Congress, since 1997, was taken to a nearby detention centre.

“Koirala fainted while being dragged away by police,” the party said in a statement.

Other protesters, including former ministers, were taken away in iron-meshed police vans.

Party officials said more than 150 people were arrested and dozens injured in a baton charge by police.

A Home Ministry official said 50 people were detained.

Koirala had vowed on Friday to intensify anti-king protests, a day after he won a third term as chief of the party.—Reuters