Kathmandu, August 23 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 many of them defied the bandh spontaneously. 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. 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. Police provided security escorts for tourist vehicles to and from Tribhuvan International Airport. 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. Police said apart from a Nepal Yatayat bus that was vandalised by two unidentified persons in Anamnagar, no incident of violence was reported in the Valley. No one has claimed the responsibility for the vandalism. Today’s general strike was also more peaceful compared to other bandhs enforced in the recent past. SDP slams attacks on protests KATHMANDU: Social Democratic Party on Sunday condemned the government’s attacks on peaceful protests, alleging that such action violated the people’s right to protest. According to secretary of the party Prem Baram, police on Sunday arrested its chairman Pasang Sherpa, member of the party’s presidium Bisan Rai, coordinator of the Indigenous Nationalities National Youth Force GS Gurung, leaders Prakash Shrestha, Bijay Gupta, Ashok Pariyar, Susan Lama, Anil Sherpa, Durga KC, Manis Gurung, Jiva Gurung and Bom Magar from Maharajgunj. Baram claimed that they were detained at an unknown location. The leaders were organising peaceful protest in Maharajgunj during the general strike organised by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities and supported by the Padma Ratna Tuladhar-led Indigenous Nationalities National Movement and SDP. The party also demanded immediate release of those arrested and urged everyone to strongly protest activities of the government, which attack peaceful protests and demonstrations.