NC cadres vandalized vehicles in several parts of the country to enforce what was said would be a peaceful strike against the murder of Shiva Poudel, Chitwan president of Tarun Dal, a youth wing of the NC. Poudel, who was attacked inside Bhadrapur jail on December 6, died on Friday night while receiving treatment at Neuro Hospital in Kathmandu.[break]
According to Repubica correspondent Kamal Thapa in Rukum, local NC cadres ransacked a police van (Ba. 1 Ja 577) used for escorting a van carrying some Constituent Assembly (CA) members. The NC cadres also chanted slogans against Chief District Officer (CDO) of Rukum Krishna Prasad Adhikari and Superintendent of Police (SP) Nanda Bahadur Bista for violating their strike by using a police van.
According to Republica correspondent Mithilesh Yadav in Siraha, NC cadres vandalized an oil tanker (Na. 2 kha 752) in Lahan. Irate NC cadres, who burnt tires on all major intersections in Lahan to impose their strike since morning, pelted stones at the tanker.
Police arrested three NC cadres in Biratnagar for trying to shut down local shops. They were freed later. They forcibly shut down all industrial outfits along the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor. Although security was beefed up by police, on one dared to ply their vehicles on the roads, fearing attack by protestors. All town and village bazaars were closed across east Nepal, according to Republica correspondents.
Factories, industries, shops and educational institutions remained closed throughout the Tarai belt, according to Republica correspondent Upendra Lamichhane. Daily commuters had to walk, braving the cold wave that envelopes the entire Taari belt in the mornings, since no public or private vehicle was allowed on the road.
According to Republica correspondent Dhruba Dangal in Sindhupalchowk, NC cadres halted 23 public vehicles in Barhabishe for violating the strike. They were allowed to move on only after 4 p.m., when the NC called off the strike. Second quarterly exams slated for Monday at 18 higher secondary and 47 secondary schools in the district were also disrupted. Tourists were stranded all day.
The NC cadres burnt effigies of Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai for clinging to his post even after failing to avoid an attack inside the jail.
According to Republica correspondent Manoj Adhikari in Pokhara, the strike had its impact on the tourism sector. All tourists who arrived in Pokhara by air on Monday had to walk more than five kilometers to reach their hotels.
Attack on journo, media vehicle
Cadres of Nepali Congress (NC) on Monday manhandled assistant news chief of Radio Mirmire Pushpa Neupane during the general strike called by the party. They also vandalized Neupane´s motorcycle at Satdobato, Lalitpur. “Though I showed them my press pass, they manhandled me and vandalized my motorcycle,” said Neupane. According to Neupane, the attackers damaged handle and front part of his motorcycle.
Meanwhile, FNJ Naya Patrika chapter has also condemned the attack on its vehicle during the general strike. Issuing a press statement on Monday, it said the act of cadres of NC, which advocates freedom of press, was deplorable. Likewise, different FNJ chapters and journalist associations have condemned the attack issuing press statement separately and demanded that the government take action against those involved in the attacks and provide compensation to Neupane.
Related story
Strike disrupts life in Valley
