Nepal's government has launched raids against prominent royalists accused of stirring ethnic conflict in the south of the country.
The Monday night arrests began hours after Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula called a press conference at his home to announce that 'some unscrupulous elements are trying to provoke [unrest]'.
'The situation will be brought under control within one or two days,' he said, adding that anyone responsible for stirring violence would be punished.
Nine people have died since violence erupted across Nepal's southern belt, a region known as the Terai, on January 19. Daytime curfews and strikes since have largely shut the area down amid widespread rioting.
The region is largely home to the Madhesi community, who share the same ethnic background with Indians living across the border. They have traditionally been discriminated against by the state, with little presence in politics, administration or security forces.
Government figures have alleged for several days that royalists were involved in stirring trouble in the region, apparently in the hope of postponing elections due in June for an assembly to write a new constitution. Many believe Nepalis will vote to abolish the monarchy.
The arrests began at 9.45pm when police arrived at the home of Kamal Thapa, notorious for his role as a hardline home minister in the former royal government. Although free until Monday night, a judicial commission recently found Mr Thapa guilty of corruption and ordering violent repression of democrats before King Gyanendra lost power last year.