KATHMANDU: Frenzied crowds, belonging to the Maoists, continued their protest, burning tyres and obstructing the traffic around the famous Pashupatinath area today. Yesterday, they mercilessly assaulted the newly appointed priests, amidst a heavy presence of security.

Despite the government's recent prohibitory orders against organizing protests in the premises of the famous religious site, the Cadres of UCPN- Maoist in collaboration with Priest Appointment Joint Struggle Committee today burnt tyres in Chabahil, Gaushala, Tilganga, Old Baneshor and Siphal bringing the traffic to a standstill for six hours.

The local administration on late Friday had declared the radius of two hundred meters from Pashshupati area a restricted zone for assembly and protest in any form. The move came in the wake of violent protests and assault on the newly-appointed priests duo.

But the agitators today said they would not give in their protests until their demands were met in principle.

The UCPN-Maoist and their Priest Appointment Joint Struggle Committee have been demanding early withdrawal of the government decision to appoint two Indian priests in the shrine. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, in his capacity as the patron of Pashupati Area Development Trust, had appointed Girish Bhatta and Raghavendra Bhatta on the recommendation of Ministry of Culture a couple of days ago. The appointment of the Indian priests is fierecely debated by the Maoists but the government says it is a customary practice handed down from many generations, as part of Nepal-India relations.

As the debate and counter-charges continues, the strike sees no end in site. And the commuters and the motorists who travel between their homes and work are bearing the major brunt.

As usual, today, the riot police deployed in hundreds resorted to baton-charge the demonstrators trying to clear the road obstructions, but to no avail.

Police have made 12 arrests elsewhere. But the strikes continues with renewed vigour.

Ganesh Prasad Adhikari, one of the coordinators of PAJST warned of dire consequence if the government and police administration continued to use excessive force to quell down the agitation.

Ram Devkota, a member of PAJST similarly demanded an early release of the agitators, failing which he warned of further protests.

Their demands include the appointment of Nepali priests, maintain transparency of the offerings in the temple and provision of monthly pay to the priests and Bhandaris.