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Kathmandu comes to a grinding halt

KATHMANDU (AFP) - Life in Kathmandu ground to a halt Thursday as students began a day-long protest against film star Hrithik Roshan's alleged remarks criticising Nepal and its people.

Hrithik, 26, and Star satellite television have both denied the actor ever said he "hated Nepal and the Nepalese people" in an interview two weeks ago.

But the students have ignored the denials and continued to protest leading to violent clashes with security forces, in which four people have died and 120 injured.

On Thursday the streets of Kathmandu were deserted as vehicles were kept off the roads while shops and restaurants were closed. There were reports of damage to a few vehicles by protestors.

The students plan to hold more demonstrations. They have demanded a ban on Roshan's films and threatened to "bury Hrithik alive" if he ever visits Nepal.

Roshan told the PTI on Tuesday: "I have never given a TV interview to any channel stating that I dislike Nepal and its people."

And a senior Star executive told AFP that the actor's interview, aired on December 14, did not touch on Nepal at all.

Roshan, son of Indian film star Rakesh Roshan, became an overnight success after making his Hindi-language film debut in Kaho Na Pyar Hai this year.

EARLIER REPORTS
I am totally innocent
Indian mission clarifies on Hrithik controversy: PTI
Nepal bans Hrithik films, seeks apology

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