Here's the latest run-down: Military helicopters are hovering overhead as I write this, keeping a watchful eye over a dreaded, terror-ridden capital. I can hear ambulance and fire-engine sirens rush past the Thapathali-Maitighar chowk as they dash towards yet another casualty, fire. Scores of buildings and offices have been burnt, and several businesses, primarily Muslim-owend businesses and manpower agencies, have been ransacked and destroyed. Even KantipurPulications and Kantipur Television building in Tineekune, and Channel Nepal office in Shantinagar were burnt and vandalized. Why attack the messenger? Gulf Air, Qatar Airways and Saudia offices have been destroyed, but the Mosque at Ratna Park escaped major damage as it is situated in one of the best guarded terroritories, near the Royal Palace. There is sheer anger in the air. Most Nepalis I have talked to on the streets today spout venom, against the Islamic militatnts, against the government and against all Muslims. This is getting scary and reminds me of the Hrithik Roshan kanda of 2000. I find it surprising that the govt dithered for hours before issuing the curfew orders. The Shiva Sena Nepal has been protesting the killings vociferoulsy, and so are most student groups and just plain common citizens. The prime minister is slated to address the nation this evening, or so I hear. From outside Kathmandu, the situation is tense in Birganj, which has a substantial Muslim community. Local Shiv Sena worers and youths forcibly shut down businesses from early today, though no fighting and destruction has been reported there. We are awaiting news from Nepalgunj, another tinderbox. Hope its not bad out there. The most surprising thing is, no one - none of the political parties, none of the civil society groups, no individual - have stood up and asked for the violence to stop. This is exactly the time when leaders and followers alike should get up and take a stand against violence. But none have been forthcoming, so far. Except of course the government which put out a timid and belated statement last night calling for calm. But the govt should take its fair share of the blame. For 12 days, it had the opportunity to send a high-ranking officer (the foreign minister perhaps) to Iraq or nearby countries to at least try to make contact with Ansar-al-Sunna. But it didn't. Instead, it left the job to two ambassadors based in Qatar and Pakistan. Look at the French. They rushed thier foreign minister to Egypt, even if it was only a political gesture. Such gestures count in times of crisis. It is sad to see such destruction again. These poor Muslim Nepalis who are being targetted in Nepal for merely being Muslims. Are they any different from the 12 Nepalis killed in Iraq for the mere fact that they were Nepalis? But its pointless to blame the masses, I guess. What this episode underscores is the deeper malaise in our society. The killings became a spark. There is national frustration in Nepal, and the violent reaction to the killings just showed that.