Kathmandu, December 19:

Sister organisations of the CPN (Maoist) organised a six-hour valley bandh today as a mark of protest against the government’s move of nominating ambassadors to various countries.

During the bandh that began at 10 in the morning, Maoist activists burnt tyres at a number of places in the city including Gaushala, Chabahil and Maitidevi.

Kul Bahadur Acharya, a member of the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), said: “We are protesting peacefully. We are not barring ambulances, vehicles belonging to the press and tourist vehicles from plying. We, however, stopped some vehicles and seized the keys as we want people to support us.”

According to him, they have seized keys of around 100 motorcycles in Kathmandu. The motorcycles have been parked in front of Dwarika’s hotel at Battisputali. Though normal life was hit by the bandh and the demonstrations, street vendors were a happy lot. They said bandhs like this help boost their business.

A fruit seller, Hari Tamang, said: “The sale is always good during bandhs. However, this time around, I was not aware of it beforehand and couldn’t buy enough fruits to sell. My stock soon depleted.” Most shops dotting the main roads were closed, while those in the inner parts of the city conducted business as usual.

Umesh Sah of Bishranti Sweets, Maitidevi, said: “We closed our shop till 1 in the afternoon. The demonstrations and the burning of tyres in the middle of the roads were on. However, we opened after that as the demonstrators were gone and the situation looked better.” A pedestrian, Bishnu Prasad Rimal, said at Gaushala: “As we hadn’t expected a bandh after loktantra, today’s was a bit of a surprise for all of us.”

Mahesh Tandukar, a shopkeeper at Dillibazar, said: “Unaware of the bandh, I came to my shop in the morning. However, my friends there told me about the bandh. I was unable to conduct business as I did not open my shop.”

A pharmacist said he doesn’t close his shop during bandhs like this. “I close my shop only when there is a curfew,” he said.

Dilip Chapagain, a businessman who sells shoes, said: “When the protest is for a good cause, we should support it and close our shops. I take such protests in a positive way though it means having to bear a loss.”

A man selling roasted corns on the streets said: “I knew of the bandh at Kalimati. I had to carry my sack of corns all the way from Kalimati to Pipalbot as there were no vehicles plying on the roads.” Sunila Shrestha, a housewife, was disappointed with the bandh called on such a short notice.

Stating that the bandh led to the postponement of her child’s school examination, she said whoever calls a bandh should inform the public well in advance.

Anil Berdewa, a policeman at Maitidevi police beat, said: “No untoward incidents occurred during the bandh and the rallies were peaceful. There were no reports of injuries and casualties.”

An employee of the Parliament Secretariat, who was in a hurry to go home, said he feared the situation may become volatile on his way back home.