Even though the union did not directly disrupt operations of key factories like oxygen bottling and dairy production plants on Thursday, most of the industries remained closed due to the threats posed by the laborers affiliated with the UCPN (Maoist)-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation (Revolutionary).
The ANTUF-R has forcefully shut down all industries inside Kathmandu´s only industrial area since Monday, demanding release of Khadga Bahadur Tamang of Bara and Bikas Rai of Solukhumbu. The duo, who works as loaders in different companies inside the industrial area, were allegedly members of the gang led by Rohit, chief of ANTUF-R Balaju Industrial Area chapter, which had manhandled IAML chief Giriraj Bhandari.
It is said that Bhandari was manhandled for his role in removing Maoists from the camps that the latter had set up inside industrial areas throughout the country.
On Monday, the union had closed down all the units inside the industrial area, except two oxygen bottling plants, Dairy Development Corporation and Nepal Gas, a LPG bottling plant. But on Tuesday, it did not even spare the four factories that cater to more than 50 percent of the local oxygen gas, liquid petroleum gas and fresh milk demands.
On Wednesday, the protesters, however, did not appear in the industrial area, giving leverage to many of the industries to resume operation. Despite this, many industrial units did not function that day because it was a public holiday. Around 75 percent of industrial units inside the industrial area usually close their operations on public holidays.
"We were expecting similar reaction today (Thursday) as well, as today is also a public holiday," a source at Balaju Industrial Area told Republica on condition of anonymity. "But apart from a selected few, they closed down all other industries."
Despite repeated attempts, Republica, could not reach any of the protesters for comments.
Maoists threaten to shut all industrial areas
Maoist-affiliated labor union has threatened to close all the industrial areas in the country if the two individuals, who were arrested by police on charges of assaulting the chief of Industrial Area Management Limited (IAML), were not released immediately.
Rajaram Thakuri aka Rohit, chief of Balaju Industrial Area chapter of All Nepal Trade Union Federation-Revolutionary, claimed that the two arrested persons were innocent.
"We will not allow factories inside the industrial areas to operate if the two are not released.” Rohit also informed that the Patan Industrial Area would remain closed from Friday.
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