Normal life in Kailali was thrown out of gear as the strike left businesses and academic institutions shut and vehicles off the road.
The Maoists have been demanding the government to declare those killed in police action in Dudejhari forest some two weeks ago as martyrs and provide compensation to the victims´ families and punish guilty police personnel involved in the incident. Among others, the agitating Maoists have been demanding the government to provide free treatment to the injured in the incident and find a long-term solution to the problems of squatters.
At least five persons including a police were killed in a clash between the police and the Maoist-affiliated squatters as the former tried to evict the them from the forest which they had illegally captured.
Earlier, the Maoists had given 10-day ultimatum to the government to meet their demand. The indefinite strikes come after the ultimatum expired on Friday. "We have decided to enforce indefinite shutdown as the government failed to meet even a single demand within the 10-day ultimatum," said Hari Gyawali, Maoists´ Kailali district in-charge.
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