KATHMANDU:Public vehicles in Kathmandu Valley did not ply on roads today due to the strike called by Nepal National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs, Bagmati Zonal Committee.

Consequently, common people were forced either to walk a long distance or hire the taxis. The strike, however, had no effect on the private and the government owned vehicles.

The transport entrepreneurs called the strike across Bagmati zone, demanding security for their employees. They have long been complaining that the government paid no attention to their grievances.

"The recurring vandalism has posed a serious threat to our profession," said Niratna Newa, the Committee coordinator. He urged the government to act responsibly so that they could carry out their business in a secure environment.

The entrepreneurs are also demanding compensation for the owner of a micro bus that was torched by the Nepal Students Union cadres in front of Bishow Jyoti Cinema, Jamal, on Monday. The NSU activists had targeted the micro bus during the chakkajam to protest the attack on its cadre Birendra Giri at White House College.

Meanwhile, Nepal National Transport Entrepreneur Supreme Federation has asked the entrepreneurs to call off the strike and solve the problems through talks.

Newa told this daily today that the strike would continue tomorrow as well, as

the government had not been paying attention towards their demands.