Pokhara, May 16:

The Kaski District Police Office (DPO) has issued a notice to close shops and restaurants in Pokhara by 11 pm every night.

This provision has been implemented in Pokhara with a view to maintain peace and security and also such agreement was reached between hotel entrepreneurs, security agencies and community service centre here last year, SP of Kaski DPO Ramesh Kumar Bhattarai said.

The chairman of Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara, Shree Lal Subedi said restaurants situated at lakeside in Pokhara were being forced to close business a lot sooner than earlier because of which clubs, bars and discotheques here wore a deserted look at night. Tourists, who want to stay till late in the night at these bars and clubs, are also being compelled to return to their hotels before 11 pm.

This reportedly is not sitting well with most of the visiting tourists who come here mostly to relax and have a good time.

English tourist David said it was quite disappointing for him not to be able to enjoy nightlife in Pokhara. The proprietor of Busy Bee Café at Pokhara, Jack Tamang said he had to close the café before 11 pm while earlier his café used to be open till 1 am.

This trend has affected the nature of tourists visiting Pokhara now. Mostly internal tourists and Indian tourists can now be seen in Pokhara.

REBAN chairman Subedi added that talks are on with administration to allow restaurants to remain open till late in the night.

The assistant chief district officer of Kaski, Chettra Bahadur Karki said this provision was implemented in order to discourage hooligans, who create chaos and threaten

people at night under the influence of alcohol, and also to strengthen the security situation.

A group of youths had fired on the patrolling team of policemen at Seti Bridge near Tulsighat in the night two weeks ago. This has been taken a serious sign of lawlessness rearing its head in Pokhara, entailing the present requirement of closure of shops and restaurants early in the night.