KATHMANDU: Nepalese students and police battled with bricks and tear gas yesterday during protests over rising fuel prices and dozens of people were injured.

Protesting students clashed with riot police at different campuses in Kathmandu, said home ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pandey.

"There had been clashes between the students and the riot police in which some police and public vehicles were damaged," he said, without giving a figure for injuries or arrests.

A senior police officer, who declined to be identified, said 21 students were arrested on different campuses and 28 policemen were injured.

Pradip Sharma, a leader of the Nepal Student Union, said more than 40 students were injured. It was not clear whether they would be charged.

Several campuses were littered with bricks thrown by both sides.

The state-run Nepal Oil Corporation had increased petrol, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel prices to keep pace with rising global costs. But the rises meant more hardship in the impoverished nation whose economy has been sapped by a deadly Maoist revolt.