Maoist strike paralyses life in Nepal

Kathmandu, Dec 20 (ANI): Normal life throughout Nepal was adversely affected on Sunday by a general strike called by the Unified CPN (Maoist).

Cadres of UCPN (Maoist) and its sister organizations gathered in various places to impose a shutdown.

Both private and public vehicles remained off the roads. Over 16 vehicles were vandalised by protesters in Kathmandu and outside districts.

Shops and shopping malls in downtown Kathmandu and major squares have remained shut, while few retail stores and tea-shops in the interior parts of the city are open.

In Baneshwor, Maoist activists pelted stones on a vehicle carrying State Minister for Tourism Shatrughan Mahato, who was on his way to the airport to welcome Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who is returning from Copenhagen after attending a climate change summit today.

Mahato is said to have escaped unhurt in the incident.

Meanwhile, the home ministry has said that police have arrested more than 30 Maoist activists for engaging in vandalism and trying to enforce the shutdown from various parts of the country.

This is the third strike called by the former rebels within a month, demanding restoration of "civilian supremacy" and rectification of President Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate the then army chief Rukmangad Katwal that had led to the fall of the Maoist Government, Nepalnews reports. (ANI)