Strike affects normal life

KATHMANDU, April 27: The strike called by Newa Tamsaling Joint Struggle Committee on Wednesday demanding peace, timely constitution, and autonomous Newa and Tamsaling states affected normal life in Kathmadu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Dhading, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Sindhuli, Ramechap, Chitwan, Makwanpur and Dolakha districts.



In Kathmandu, empty streets turned into playgrounds where kids bowled, batted and fielded. [break]



Passenger buses that operate at night were stranded at Nagdhunga, Thankot and Kalanki. Some 25 buses and over 20 trucks were stranded in these entry points after being unable to reach their destinations. Some passengers walked to their destinations, while others stayed put in the vehicles.



According to reports from Makwanpur, no vehicles plied in Hetauda on Wednesday. Only medical shops were open in Hetauda bazaar.



Our Banepa correspondent Madhusudan Guragain reported that vehicles stayed off the Araniko and BP highways. Strike enforcers did not allow vehicles that carry milk and vegetables in Banepa to operate as well. The Banepa market wore a deserted look.



Even senior staffers at government offices did not go to work. Non-gazzetted staffers and peons however, went to work.



Meanwhile, our Dhangadhi correspondent Dil Bahadur Chantyal reported that a strike called by Ekata Manch affected normal life in nine districts in the region. Police arrested two people who were stopping a truck for defying the strike. Those arrested are Rajendra Bahadur Bista and Bishnu Awasti.



The strike enforcers staged demonstrations in Dhangadhi from early Wednesday morning.



Our correspondent Gajendra Bohara reported from Dang that strike enforcers seized over three dozen motorcycles for defying the strike. The motorcycles were returned after 5 pm.



In Dang short and long-distance public vehicles remained off the roads.



The strike was called by Tharuhat Autonomous State Council, Nepa Rastriya Party, Dalit Janajati Party, Sanghiya Loktantrik Manch, and Himali Adibasi Bouddha Federation, among others. They have been demanding implementation of an agreement between Tharuhat Struggle Committee and the government inked four years ago.



Some vehicles that had arrived in Dang carrying passengers from different districts were escorted by the police to their destination.

Related story

Desperate search for missing girls as nearly 80 dead in Texas f...