Kathmandu, April 13 -- The violent March 28 pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune has sparked debates not just on the shortcomings of the republican dispensation and the persistence of royalist sentiment in the country but also the nature of state response to contain riots, as well as its ability to uphold public trust and democratic principles.

Several questions remain unanswered about the demonstration that escalated into riots, with the protesters clashing with police forces, leaving two dead and over 120 injured. Private and public properties, as well as media houses and a supermarket, were vandalised.

The scale of the force used by the security apparatus to contain the riots was made public only a week later. While the government has sai...