UCPN (Maoist) held a chain rally around the ring road Tuesday afternoon while its senior leaders greeted the agitators, plying the 27 km route on a truck. "We have calculated that the chain rally involved over 70 thousand persons," said a senior police officer tasked to monitor the event.[break]
Police adjudged the May 1 demonstration by the Maoists on Saturday to be 125,000-strong. However, the number has since gradually decreased, with at least 10,000 agitators believed to have left the capital within the last two days, police said.
Those who left the capital are said to have gone homewards on foot as the organizers did not offer them transport.
SATUNGAL LOCALS CLASH WITH MAOISTS
Locals of Satungal and Naikap clashed with Maoist cadres on Tuesday.
Local residents of both the places took to streets against Maoist activists.
The clash ensued when a group of Maoist cadres vandalized a motorcycle for defying the general strike called by their party. The area remained tense until the police reached there.
Similarly, Maoist activists vandalised some shops in Maitidevi for defying the banda. They also thrashed a staff of National Television near its office at Chuchepati, Chabahil.
The UCPN (Maoist), however, said that some “vigilantes” entered and tried to defame their movement.
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE VANDALISED
A group of Maoist cadres vandalized the office of Hetaunda Municipality on Tuesday.
Banda enforcers vandalised the municipal information center, human resources section and computer lab of the office for "defying the strike".
Property worth over Rs. 100,000 was damaged in the vandalism, according to the municipality. A computer and a satellite receiver were completely broken, said municipality legal officer BK Maharjan.
Maoist cadres also smashed the counter and window panes as well. They have warned not to open the office during the strike, municipality employees said.
Following the incident, a large number of Armed Police Force has been mobilsied in the area.
MAOISTS VANDALIZE, LOOT SHOPS
Earlier in the morning, a number of Maoists vandalized about a dozen shops in Anamnagar area in the capital for "defying" their strike on Tuesday, according to Avenues TV.
They also robbed the shops, one of the shop owners told the TV channel. [break]
Another owner whose shop was also vandalized questioned the rationale of allowing milk vans to distribute milk if they were not allowed to sell it. "What are we going to do with the milk packs we bought in the morning? Throw into Dhobikhola?" she asked.
Another irate proprietor debunked that the nationwide general strike called by the Maoist, that entered its third day today, was "peaceful" as claimed by the party. Pointing to her vandalized shop, she asked, "Do you call this peaceful? Now we don´t want the prime minister to resign.
TWO INJURED IN POKHARA
Earlier on Tuesday, at least two laborers were injured in Pokhara in a clash with UCPN (Maoist) cadres when the latter tried to force the workers to take part in their in protest, reported a TV channel.
According to National TV, the clash ensued after the daily wage laborers refused to participate. Most of these laborers are now unemployed due to the ongoing nationwide general strike that entered its third day Tuesday.
LIFE CRIPPLED
Life in the Kathmandu Valley has been hit on the third consecutive day Tuesday due to the indefinite general strike called by the Unified CPN (Maoist) to bring down the government, establish peace and for constitution-drafting.
The demonstrators forced shops and market at all places in the Valley to close since the morning today, affecting normal life.
Closure of markets, factories and education institutions has continued. Vehicles except ambulances and those belonging to security personnel, press, diplomatic missions and carrying water and milk have stayed off the road.
Maoist activists chanting anti-government slogans have staged demonstrations at New Baneshwor, Koteshwor, Tripureshwor, Kalanki, Putalisadak, Chabahil, Gongabu, Kupandol, Maharajgunj and other major places. They also cleaned garbage piled up on streets.
Senior Maoist leaders have led demonstrations in several places. Monday’s indefinite strike was largely peaceful.
Vice-chairman of the Unified CPN (Maoist) Narayankaji Shrestha said their agitation will continue until the dissolution of the present government. He said bilateral and tripartite talks are also ongoing among the parties.
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