Agitators wreck public property on Day II

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

PALPA: Hotels and industries were vandalised, while normal life across the district was paralyzed today for the second day of the bandh called by the Joint Struggle Committee comprising Brahmans, Chhetris, Thakuris, Dasnamis, Dalits including others against ethnicity-based federalism and demanding national unity and recognition of their rights in the new constitution.

The bandh enforcers have also demanded to enlist them in the list of indigenous nationality. Market places, industries and education

institutions remained closed across the country, while

vehicles remained off the road.

Some hotels were vandalised at the district headquarters Tansen. Bandh enforcers also damaged a meeting hall of the District Public Health Office, while a training programme was going on in the hall. In the due course, they have smashed some computers, window panes and other electrical equipments used in the training.

Police have taken Sachin Bista, Chiranjivi Neupane and Hari Khadka into their custody for their involvement in the vandalism and released them later.

Similarly, bandh enforcers vandalised a hotel Ranimahal located in Seetalpati, Tansen. A report from Bara said strikers forcefully shut various industries in Simara of Bara on Friday.

There was a minor scuffle between the police and bandh enforcers when the agitators attempted to shut Jagadamba Steel Industries. The management of the industry later shut the factory after the scuffle.

Similarly, bandh enforcers had demonstrated in Naubise, Mahadevbeshi, Gajuri, Malekhu including other places of Dhading district since this morning. Hundreds of vehicles were stopped in various parts of the district as the agitators blocked the highway in different places.

Meanwhile, bandh enforcers also organised a blood donation programme in Parasi. According to Matrika Prasad Pandey, district chairman, Nepal Blood Association, 25 people have donated blood at the programme. He informed that there was scarcity of blood

in the district due to the bandh.

Likewise bandh enforcers organised various cultural rituals in Parasi and Kawashoti. On the other hand, agitators obstructed the main roads in Sunbal,Tribeni, Parasi, Bardaghat, Chormara, Danda, Gaidakot including other areas.

Meanwhile, cadres of Madhes based parties had come out in the street with canes and iron rods in protest of the bandh claiming that bandh is against ethnic federalism. A police team headed by SP Gyan Bikram Shah snatched the canes and iron roads from them and dispersed the mob.

According to THT Kavre correspondent, bandh enforcers did not even allow plying the vehicles carrying milk and vegetables. However, they were allowed only after 5 pm.

Bandh enforcers have also obstructed some buses carrying Indian tourists at Janagal and Banepa. Police escorted the three buses stranded at Janagal. Besides, they had vandalised an ambulance in Janagal and a motorcycle in Sindhulimadhi today.

Similarly, agitators put sign board written ‘Akhanda Nepal Paschhimanchal’ in various parts of Pokhara today. Six bandh enforcers were injured in a clash with the police.

According to Bishwamohan Poudel, spokesperson of the Joint Struggle Committee, six persons were injured in the police action. The injured were: Surendra Budha, Dinesh Poudel, Bindu Karki, Jhamaknath Baral, Devendraraj Baral and a minor girl Sarita Gurung.

The bandh enforcers smashed the window panes of some banks and shops for defying bandh in Pokhara. Similarly, life in Sarlahi, Kapilvastu and Tanahun including other parts of the district was also affected due to the bandh.