Banda enforcers gathered in the main streets and major junctions of the Capital, halting the vehicular movement since early morning. Vehicles stayed off the road, educational institutions, shops and market places remained remained shut through out the day in the Capital.

Banda activists torched a taxi (Ba 1 Ja 8064) at Kalanki early this morning for defying the strike.

The strikers looted the copies of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies from a vehicle at Babarmahal bridge this morning.

The strike also crippled life in various districts including Bardiya, Palpa, Udaypur, Nawalparasi, with educational institutions, market places remaining closed and vehicles barred from plying. Police had to escort some of the long and short route buses towards their destinations. However, vehicles carrying milk, vegetables and ambulances were seen operating in these districts.

Kantipur vehicle torched

A vehicle carrying Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies has been torched at Mirchaiya in Siraha district. Some eight persons in four motorcycles stopped the vehicle and set it on fire after sprinkling petrol on it. The jeep (Ba 9 Cha 5850) has been completely destroyed in the arson. The vandals stopped the vehicle and said that they had ‘orders from above’ to arson the vehicle.

Police Inspector Hari Khatiwada said that the attack on the vehicle was premeditated. Police has been searching for those involved in the act, said Khatiwada . The vehicle was on its way to Janakpur.

2 trucks carrying newsprint set on fire

An unidentified group torched two trucks in the wee of Tuesday morning at Aastha Chok in Bharatpur-12, Chitwan district.

The trucks carrying newsprint for the Kantipur publications were torched at 4 in the morning. The front portion of the trucks, tyres and the rolls of newsprint were destroyed by the arson. The fire was doused at around 7 in the morning.

Likewise, an unidentified gang set fire to a truck (Na 4 Kha 8523) at Khurkure section of Chitwan on the East West Highway.  Security personnel and a fire-brigade vehicle were deployed to put out the fire.

Vehicles have stayed off the road and passengers have been stranded because of the strike.

Youths rally against banda in Parbat

Youth organisations in Parbat district have taken to street against the banda called by the opposition alliance. Youths are planning to take out a peace rally and are also opening the shut market places and industries in the district. Security in the district has been heightened to avert any untoward incident.

Banda disrupts Maghe fair

A fair organised on the occasion of Maghe Aushi at Trivenidham in Nawalparasi district was affected by the strike.

Thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India used to attend the fair to take a holy bath and perform shraddha at Trivenidham.

A banda enforcer rejoices with a red flag after setting fire to a motorcycle during the general strike at Babarmahal, Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Prakash Timilsena/ eKantipur

Protesters burn the effigy of CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli during the general strike at Babarmahal, Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Prakash Timilsena /eKantipur

Protesters vandalise a bike bearing blue registration plate during the general strike called by the UCPN (Maoist)-led 30-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist at Babarmahal, Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Prakash Timilsena /eKantipur

A differently-abled man along with his family members head towards his destination during the general strike called by the opposition parties at Babarmahal, Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Prakash Timilsena /eKantipur