Kathmandu, August 24

The general strike called by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) had little impact on the daily life of denizens in Kathmandu Valley today as well with the people openly defying the bandh.

NEFIN had called the bandh, demanding delineation of federal states based on identity, secularism and provision of a Janajati Commission in the new constitution.

The public and transport entrepreneurs continued with their daily activities and traffic appeared to be normal like any other day.

Police arrested 48 protesters from the Valley along with three agitators suspected of possessing petroleum with them for use in vandalism. One of the arrested was released after investigation.

Many public vehicles and private cars moved on the streets, though earlier they used to stay off the roads fearing vandalism during general strikes. However, long route buses did not leave or enter the Valley. Special security arrangements were in place to prevent any untoward incident during the shutdown.

Only a few shopkeepers pulled down their shutters in major commercial areas as many were not ready to face the brunt of the bandh time and again. However, the impact of bandh was visible in some parts of the Valley. Academic institutions, major marketplaces, factories and industries remained shut due to fear of vandalism.

More than 6,000 riot police were deployed to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile NEFIN issued a press release demanding the release of arrested protesters.

NEFIN warned it would organise other bandh programmes to pressurise the government to ensure the rights of indigenous tribes including Madhesi, Janajati and Dalits in the new constitution by addressing their nine demands.

The nine demands are identity-based provinces, rebuilding the nation without separating the locations of indigenous tribes, equal participation in state mechanisms, secularism, implementation of past agreements, ensuring the rights of indigenous tribes as per international laws, ensuring the rights of indigenous tribes agreed in the first constitution drafting process and naming and bordering of states by the Constituent Assembly.