The general strike was organized to protest the recently-inked Lipu Lek agreement signed by India and China. The two countries signed the deal to open a trade and transit point through Lipulekh, part of which falls in Nepali territory, without including Nepal in the deliberations.
The effective patrolling by Nepal Police at various places in Kathmandu Valley prevented any kind of untoward incident. The presence of police at major junctions throughout the day made public feel safe to move around.
"The strikers couldn't enforce banda or cause damage in the valley due to the presence of Nepal Police patrol," said Kamal Singh Bam, spokesperson of the Nepali Police. "We had singled out places that posed challenge from the point of view of security and deployed enough forces to prevent any untoward incident."
Deputy Inspector General Bam informed that they had formed standby reserved forces for immediate respond in case of crisis.
"We had also deployed plainclothesmen at different locations," added Bam.
The police arrested altogether 247 general strike enforcers from across the country, of which 99 were detained from the Kathmandu Valley.
Still, the strikers belonging to Chand-led party torched nine vehicles and vandalize 19 others. Out of the nine vehicles burnt across the country by the banda organizers, only one was from the valley, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Narayan Singh Khada. He said that four people set a car on fire at Sorhakhutte area around 4 pm, though the driver managed to escape unhurt.
On the other hand, general public opposed to the banda culture, urged political leaders to opt for other forms of negotiation.
Bibeksheel Nepali, a political party formed by youth activists, organized a program at Maitighar in the morning to spread a message, "Search alternative of Banda" and "Nepal is open." The members of the party urged the strike enforcers to end the culture of banda for a prosperous Nepal.
According to some research, the country faces losses worth approximately Rs 2 billion per day during banda.
Taxi torched in Koteshwore, 3 dozen banda organizers held
