Unified CPN (Maoist) cadres have clashed with police and vandalised government offices in various districts including capital Kathmandu in the course of sit-in demonstrations they staged in front of the offices across the country to prevent civil servants and service seekers from entering, as part of their protest against the President’s move on army chief case and the recent government decision to overturn the Maoist-led government’s decision on the army chief.
Clashes occurred in front of Singha Durbar Sunday morning after demonstrators defied prohibitory orders and tried to breach the police cordon. Some demonstrators including a Maoist CA member were injured in the incident. Some journalists were also injured and the cameras of some photojournalists were damaged.
Violence also erupted in Kavre as demonstrators tried to forcefully enter the District Development office. At least four have been injured.
Maoists cadres and police clashed in many other districts including Bardiya, Darchula, Mahottari, Ramechhap, Ilaam, Morang, Darchula and Baitadi, among others. At least 50 people have been injured in the clashes. In some Maoists vandalised government offices. Police fired tear gases to disperse the demonstrators in Baitadi and Baridya districts.
The situation in Dhading became tense after the Maoist cadres beat up the Local Development Officer. The local administration has imposed a curfew in the district headquarter and surrounding areas.
The Maoist cadres had staged sit-in demonstrations in front of government offices across the country to prevent civil servants and service seekers from entering the offices from 10 am to 12 noon Sunday.
In Kathmandu, large number of Maoist cadres gathered around Babarmahal, Maitighar and Bhadrakali to prevent civil servants from entering Singha Durbar, district administration office, tax office and other offices in the area. They also staged sit-in demonstrations in other parts of the capital as well as in various districts of the country.
Security had been kept at high alert around the government offices. Large number of security personnel had been deployed around the offices. The home ministry had issued strict instructions to security agencies to ensure entry of civil servants and normal functioning of the day to day activities in the offices.
However, public was not able to avail services from government offices most of the day Sunday. Traffic was also thrown out of gear in the capital as well as other major towns in the country.
The security agencies were instructed to allow peaceful sit-ins, but disperse the crowd if they sit on the way and use maximum force and arrest the demonstrators if necessary.
The Maoists have intensified their protests after the new government revoked the previous government’s decision to sack the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal and appoint Lt General Kul Bahadur Khadka as the acting CoAS. Khadka has already retired on Saturday, after completing his term. nepalnews.com Jun 21 09
