Education institutions, factories and businesses were shut across the country, while vehicles stayed off the roads. Clashes erupted at several parts of the country and the protestors vandalized scores of vehicles and offices for defying the banda. Dozens of people were injured in the clashes. Police rounded up at least 72 persons from several parts of the country, according to the Home Ministry.
DSP unconscious, critical
Some two dozen protestors and half-a-dozen policemen including DSP Dilip Chaudhary were injured in clashes that erupted at Baneshwar. A few policemen and Maoist leaders were seen telling their colleagues to maintain restrain, but the situation only went out of control.
Police used water cannons and rained batons to disperse the agitators, besides firing several rounds of tear gas shells. The protestors in turn retaliated by pelting brickbats and attacked the policemen with batons.
Chaudhary sustained severe head injury when the protestors attacked him with batons as he tipped over a motorbike when the protestors were chasing the police away.
An unconscious Chaudhary was taken to Kantipur Hospital at Tinkune and then to the Police Hospital at Maharajgunj. He is currently admitted to Neuro Hospital in Banswari. His condition is reported to be critical.
It may be recalled that Chaudhary was on the Maoist hit list. Maoist mouthpiece Krishnasen online had stated on Nov 13, 2009, that DSPs Bhojraj Ojha and Dilip Chaudhary are under "the vigilance by of the people for taking repressive measures against the party´s Singha Durbar picketing."
Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Gachchhadar and Home Minister Bhim Rawal went to the Neuro Hospital in Bansbari to know the condition of Chaudhary. He has received 45 stitches in the head and he was unconscious tilll late night Sunday.
Lawmakers, journalists injured
Around two dozen protestors including Maoist lawmakers Ram Charan Chaudhary, Yasoda Timilsina and Bhim Prasad Gautam were also injured in the clash. Issuing a statement, Maoists said some four dozen protestors were injured. Maoist cadre Madhu Chaulagain´s condition is critical, the party said.
Likewise, photographer Navesh Chitrakar of the Himalayan Times sustained head injury in Gaushala and Narayan Neupane of RSS was injured in Baneshwar.
The Baneshwar clash ensued since 11 a.m. after the policemen tried to clear the road for Prime Minister Madhav Nepal´s passage from airport to Baluwatar upon his return from Copenhagen. Later, the PM went to Baluwatar via Gaushala.
The protestors were seen vandalizing the railings and road dividers while the road was strewn with pieces of bricks and stones. The situation at Gaushala, Putalisadak and Bagbazar also remained tense throughout the day. The protestors also pelted stones at a vehicle of State Minister for Tourism Shatrughan Koiri.
Hospital, press vehicles not spared
The Maoists also vandalized a vehicle of Sahid Gangalal Hospital at Gaushala. The vehicle was carrying the staff to the hospital. Few press vehicles were also vandalized despite the Maoist commitment to refrain from such activities.
In Rajbiraj of Saptari, Maoists vandalized Mahendra Bindeshwari Campus for defying the banda by conducting exams. They burnt the campus chief´s office. Maoists said police arrested some six dozens of Maoist cadres.
Similarly, three persons were injured in a clash between the banda enforcers and UML-affiliated Youth Force cadres in Triyuga of Udayapur.
In Ilam, the protestors torched a motorbike in Sankhejung VDC, while they seized some motorbikes in Nepalgunj. In Dang, the Maoists vandalized three government offices and torched a motorbike belonging to a commoner.
Maoists detained six teachers inside Tribhuvan Multiple Campus in Palpa for defying the banda and freed them on condition that the campus would not be opened during the banda. Police arrested five persons in Baglung. In Parvat, Maoists beat up Govinda Paudel.
Maoist cadres padlocked the office of the 3-MW Arun Valley Hydroelectricity project in Sankhuwasabha, disrupting power supply in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur.
The Home Ministry said in a statement that the Maoists ignored basic social norms and the country´s dignity by disrupting the road through which the prime minister was scheduled to reach his residence. The statement said the police used force after the protestors ignored frequent warnings, pelted stones at them, burnt tires and vandalized the road dividers. The statement said 21 policemen were injured in the clash.
Related story
International Day for Prevention of Violent Extremism today
