Maoist-called band cripples normal life in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: Normal life was derailed in Kathmandu due to the band called by the CPN Maoist affiliated organizations on Thursday.
The band was called as a protest against the recent hikes in petroleum prices by the government and the government’s preparations to hold Constituent Assembly elections in November 19.

Public and private transportations remained off the road and the CPN Maoist cadres are staging protests at major junctions across the capital.

Earlier on Wednesday, the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation had announced the hike in fuel prices.

Ambulances and vehicles belonging to the Red Cross, Press, diplomatic missions, tourist service and human rights organisations are allowed to ply.

Security personnel are deployed at every junction in the valley to prevent any untoward incident.

Short and long-route buses and hundreds of passengers are stranded in the valley due to the strike.

The organisers will call off the general strike after 5 pm.

Meanwhile, different fourteen student unions have also announced a weeklong protest against hike in the prices of petroleum products, demanding that the government repeal the hike.

At a joint meeting held yesterday, the unions announced their first-phase protest, which started from today, includes three-day shutdown of fuel stations across the country from September 15.