Maoist bandh cripples life

A bandh called by Unified CPN (Maoist) to protest the killings of seven squatters in Dudejhari forest of Kailali by the Nepal police and Arm Police Force (APF) has brought the nation to a complete halt since early morning Sunday.

Due to the bandh both short and long transportation service has been disrupted. Factories and business institutions, educational institutions remained shut throughout the country.

Cadres of UCPN (Maoist) and its sister organisations are demonstrating by burning tires and creating other hurdles on the road in various parts of Kathmandu including Teku, Kalimati, Kalanki, Ratnapark and Chabahil. Similarly, they have vandalized a chemist shop in Balaju.

Maoist cadres torched a motorcycle early morning today in Koteshwar accusing of defying the bandh. Police have arrested two persons from the site in connection with the incident.  

However, the Maoists have said, they will not disrupt movement of vehicles related to press, diplomatic agencies, hospitals and ambulances and those ferrying tourists to and from airport.