Maoist-enforced banda cripples life across nation; Minister's vehicle vandalised
Normal life across the nation was brough to a virtual standstill on Sunday, the first day of a three-day general strike called by the UCPN (Maoist) as part of their third-phase protest demanding the establishment of 'civilian supremacy'.
Vehicles stayed off the roads, shops were shuttered and the educational institutions were closed due to the banda. The Maoist cadres began demonstrations at major thoroughfares in the capital including Koteshowr, Chabahil, Maharajgunj, Satdobato, Putalisadak, Baneshwor, Maitighar, Thapathali, Kalimati, and Kalanki before the crack of the dawn today.
The demonstrating Maoist cadres vandalised the vehicle of State Minister for Tourism Satrudhan Mahato while he was on his way to welcome Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
Prime Minister Nepal arrived in the capital today after attending the Copenhagen Climate Summit in Denmark. He was safely escorted to his official residence in Baluwatar amid tight security.
Nearly a dozen vehicles, including an ambulance belonging to Sahid Gangalal Heart Centre, were vandalised in the capital during the Maoist demonstration. A group vandalised ambulance at Gaushala.
Maoists burnt tyres at New Baneshwor and obstructed the road. (Photo: Anamol Mani Poudel)
According to Nepal Police spokesperson Bigyan Sharma, police have arrested some 62 Maoist cadres from various parts of the country who engaged in vandalising vehicles and enforcing the strike.
The security personnel clashed with the agitators at Tilaganga and New Baneshowr area in the capital where the Maoists had apparently concentrated their blockade with the aim to obstruct Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal's arrival from the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen. The policemen fired over a dozen teargas shells and used water cannons to disperse the agitating Maoists at Nayabaneshowr.
Over a dozen Maoist cadres and half-a-dozen police personnel including DSP Dilip Chaudhari were injured in Baneshwor. DSP Chaudhari, who lost his consciousness after receiving rains of batons and stones in the clash, ended up at Gangalal Heart Centre where he underwent a major surgery this evening. Maoists said that its lawmaker Yashoda Gurung was also injured in the encounter, which according to eyewitnesses turned into a virtual battle gound.
The agitators did not spare journalists' vehicles and ambulances in certain parts of the country despite their earlier commitment to abstain from attacking vehicles belonging to hospital, media and diplomatic missions.
The home ministry said it had deployed a large number of security personnel to avert possible untoward situation.
However, the other parts of the country remained relatively peaceful in comparison to the capital despite minor reports of scuffle and vandalism.
The Maoists have been agitating from the parliament and the streets ever since it dislodged from the government under its leadership in May after their attempt to sack the then Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Rookmangud Katawal was foiled by President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate the General.
As part of their third-phase protest, the Maoists had unilaterally declared 13 ethnic- and region-based Autonomous States across the country earlier as per their state-restructuring proposal to press the demand of 'civilian supremacy'.
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