BAGLUNG, March 5: Disqualified Maoist ex-combatants have called a nationwide strike on Monday, saying that the government failed to address their demands.
The banda has partial affect in various districts while there is a complete shutdown in some places. Police have arrested seven ex-combatants who were rallying on the road to ensure a total shutdown this morning. [break]
Police arrested Laxman KC and Padam Kisan from Baglung and Samit KC, Ramesh Sapkota, Rajkumar Chhetri, Niraj KC and Madhav Rijal from Myagdi.
Although the banda has partial effect in Myagdi, Baglung has totally been shut since morning.
"Two of the ex-combatants who were rallying on the road to enforce the strike have been arrested," Baglung DSP Kirshna Sivakoti informed.
Police have beefed up security in those areas and are trying to open the market.
The banda has no effect in Pokhara our correspondent Manoj Adhikari informed. Although the nearby places have been affected by the banda, vehicles have been smoothly plying on the roads in Pokhara.
All the market places and shops are open like any other day. Pokhara police arrested six ex-combatants trying to enforce banda in early morning.
Maoist ex-fighters announces shutdown
Life has been partially affected due to nationwide shutdown enforced by disqualified ex-combatants of the UCPN (Maoist) from Monday citing government´s apathy to their demands.
It was agreed to address the demands of ex-combatants within a week while holding talks between representatives of Disqualified Combatants Central Struggle Committee and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction on last January 5.
Despite this the government did not heed their demands causing them to launch struggle program including shutdown for indefinite period, informed the organizer.
Public transport has been completely brought to a grinding halt while private vehicles are seen very limited due to general strike.
Likewise, the market, factories and educational institutions have been partially affected. Security arrangement in the area has been beefed up so as to check any untoward incidents.
The agitating ex-fighters said that they would not sit for talks in coming days till the government took concrete decision through Cabinet on their demands and they would strongly oppose the government from underground if suppression was meted out against their agitation.
Hetauda: Ex-fighters group has enforced shutdown demanding equal economic package that the combatants in the camp are entitled to.
Long and short-route vehicles to and from Hetauda have been completely halted while local market is entirely closed. Normal life has been affected and industrial corridor and other organizations are shut as well.
The disqualified ex- combatants have been putting forth various demands like relief package and certificate from the government for their services among others.
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