KATHMANDU, July 26: Nepal Police have arrested over 130 cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist from different districts, including Kathmandu Valley, during the nationwide strike enforced by the party on Monday.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the protesters were arrested while trying to forcefully shut down businesses as well as smashing and torching vehicles. The strike enforcers allegedly set two taxis on fire at Minbhawan and Gongabu in the wee hours early morning. Similarly, two trucks in Chitwan and Tanahun were set on fire by the cadres. The trucks were carrying medicines.
In Sarlahi, police arrested a CPN Maoist cadre while trying to hurl a petrol bomb at a loaded truck. Similarly, in Lalitpur and Nuwakot three vehicles were vandalized, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The strike affected the livelihood of people with very few vehicles plying and most schools, colleges, business enterprises and industries remaining shut.
Spokesperson of Biplab-led Maoist, Khadga Bishwakarma, said that they called the nationwide strike to protest the crackdown by authorities on landless people in Sarlahi district. "The government should not make any delays to address the issues of over 5 million landless people and compensate them properly," the statement reads.
Those arrested during the strike were released late in the evening. But those involved in vandalizing and torching of vehicles were yet to be released as police was preparing to charge them under public offence act.
The party has demanded unconditional release of all its cadres arrested during the strike and threatened to enforce additional strikes if not released.
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