Police on Sunday released Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden and other senior party leaders who were detained for a few hours for protesting inside Singha Durbar premises.

Lingden, along with party Senior Vice-chair Buddhiman Tamang and Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi, were taken into custody after they staged a protest carrying pamphlets shortly after the RPP’s parliamentary party meeting.

They had entered the Singha Durbar complex citing official party business but protested, prompting police to detain them briefly.

The leaders were held at the Kathmandu Police Range, Bhadrakali.

Other RPP leaders and cadres staged a protest in the New Baneshwar-Bijulibazar area. Tension flared briefly as protesters tried to breach security barricades restricting access to the prohibited zone. Police issued warnings over loudspeakers, and the demonstration concluded without any untoward incident.

On Saturday, the home ministry had warned the RPP against violating restrictions, saying that any breach would lead to legal action. The ministry said it was alarmed by public statements from RPP leaders announcing their intent to defy the ban.

The RPP’s Central Executive Committee meeting on Thursday had decided to stage protests in restricted zones, demanding the release of party leaders and cadres arrested during the March 28 demonstration. Those arrested include Senior Vice-chair Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana, both held in connection with the Tinkune incident.

The RPP has been holding a series of protests of late demanding reinstatement of monarchy in the country.