On the eve of the expiry of the Constituent Assembly (CA) term, various organizations, drawing a line between those demanding the ethnic-based federalism and others opposing it, forcibly brought most parts of the country to a standstill. Despite a symbolic defiance of the strike by tourism entrepreneurs, normal life remained badly affected all day long across the country. Incidents of setting vehicles ablaze by strike enforcers further frightened commoners. [break]
The strike enforcers torched four vehicles, including a press van, in Kathmandu. A vehicle, Ba 5 Cha 9375, belonging to Kantipur publications, was burnt down in Banasthali of Kathmandu. Similarly, a minibus operated by Nepal Yatayat (Ba 1 Kha 7324) and a microbus (Ba 1 Ja 6255) were set ablaze in Jadibuti and Dillibazaar respectively. A taxi was vandalized at Basundhara. Strike enforcers did not spare an ambulance van, either. An ambulance (Ko 1 cha 3658) was vandalized on its way to Biratnagar.
According to Biratnagar-based Republica correspondent Khila Nath Dhakal, the parents of a 10-month-old child were prevented from taking their sick baby to hospital during a strike jointly called by Brahmin and Chhetri societies. Shankar Lal and his wife Sushila Chaudhari, residents of Tanmuna village in Sunsari district, had hired a motorcycle to take their baby suffering from high fever and diarrhea for the past three days, to the Koshi zonal hospital. They had skipped major intersections, fearing possible obstructions by strike enforcers. However, they were stopped, and forcibly returned, while crossing the final intersection to the hospital.
“My baby is sick, very sick,” Shankar Lal was wailing in front of the strike enforcers. But, he failed to win over the heart of the hooligans. “Every one is busy in fulfilling own interests. Nobody cares a fig about our plight.”
The strike took its toll even in western and far-western regions. Although no one descended on the streets to enforce general strike, public transports, schools, colleges and factories were closed down, according to Republica correspondent Bikram Giri.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepali Journalists has condemned the attacks on journalists during Friday’s strike. The federation has termed the torching of Kantipur Television van as pre-planned. Likewise the federation has condemned police mistreatment of Republica correspondent Suresh Yadav in Dhanusha. The federation said police sub inspector Shashi Thakur had mistreated Yadav on Thursday evening in Mujelia in the district. The federation has demanded action against those involved in the incidents.
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