KATHMANDU: Daily life of people in Kathmandu have been crippled since Sunday morning due to the on- going preparations for the rallies and mass assemblies being organised by Unified CPN (Maoist). Among others, public vehicles have been prohibited in several places of the city.

The valley police has deployed hundreds of police despite the Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma saying that the rallies and the mass assemblies would be peaceful.

According to the Maoists, rallies marching form 7 locations-- Gongabu Bus Park, Koteshwar, Lagankhel, Balkhu, Maharajgunj, Chabahil and Kalimat— to Ratnapark will finally assemble at Tundikhel at 1 p.m. At the same time, Maoists ministers, except Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, will head towards the president´s office at Shital Niwas from Shanti Vatika at Ratna Park for the mass assembly.

The Maoists are organising rallies and mass assemblies in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi Sunday afternoon as part of their protest programme against the President’s move to intervene in the government decision to sack the army chief.