1st day of Maoist general strike generally peaceful

The first day of indefinite general strike called by the Unified CPN (Maoist) as part of its fourth phase agitation against the government remained largely peaceful with only few incidents of clashes and vandalism in various parts, Sunday.

Large number of Maoist cadres brought from various districts to Kathmandu staged demonstrations on the streets of Kathmandu by singing, dancing and occasionally chanting slogans against the government.
In the afternoon, UCPN (Maoist) organised corner meets in various places of the capital and other cities of the country. Maoist central level leaders addressed the corner meets and called for immediate resignation of the present government saying the government is the main obstacle to consensus.
In the evening the Maoist cadres organised torch rallies from various parts of the city. According to Maoist sources, organising a torch rally was not in the programme list, but was added this afternoon to make the agitation more effective.
The demonstrators as well as well as the security personnel exhibited restraint and abstained from provocation and violence compared to the demonstrations in the past.
The capital’s day to day life was largely affected with vehicles off the road, and marketplaces, factories, offices and education institutions closed.
Vehicles of essential use such as press, ambulances, garbage collectors, and vehicles of diplomatic agencies were allowed to run.
Some people were seen walking to their destinations, while many other cancelled their work and stayed back at home due to the strike.
The Maoists have allowed the market to open from 6pm to 8pm throughout the country to let the people buy essential supplies.
Some incidents of clashes and vandalism occurred in a few places outside Kathmandu valley includingChitwan, Biratnagar, Dang and Dailekh.
Clashes occurred in some parts of Chitwan Sunday. The clashes ensued by the dispute in conducting the HSEB exams took a violent and turn leaving a demonstrators, security personnel and a journalist injured.
Maoists have claimed as student also received a bullet in the course of the clashes.
Few other incidents of minor clashes were reported from Pokhara and Birgunj.
However, the 1st day of the Maoist general strike remained generally peaceful with no grave incident of violence.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which monitored the strike throughout the country Sunday, said the strike remained largely peaceful.
NHRC had deployed 13 teams of Human Rights monitors across the country.