Life returning to normalcy after half-day long Maoist strike

Life slowly returned to normalcy in Kathmandu Valley and many parts of the country after a half-day long nation-wide general strike (Nepal bandh) imposed by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) on Friday.

Cadres of Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) enforcing bandh (general strike) in Kathmandu, Friday, 14 Sept 2012. The nationwide bandh ended at noon. nepalnews.com/rh

Shops and businesses in main market areas of Kathmandu are slowly opening their shutters to a busy Friday afternoon while private and public vehicles have started to ply in the streets, even causing traffic congestion at some places.
The Mohan Baiya led CPN-M had on Thursday decided to impose the nationwide bandh from 6 am to 12 noon to protest against the government's decision to hike prices of petroleum products.

The party had earlier decided to impose a day-long bandh, but reduced it to half-a-day in view of the Children's Day that is being celebrated on Friday and upcoming Teej festival.

In Kathmandu, most of the shops and businesses in the main market areas remained shut till 12 noon while industries and educational institutions also remained closed due to the strike.

Except few private cars and motorbikes, vehicular movement in the Capital has almost come to a grinding halt.

Office-goers had difficulty reaching their offices due to lack of public vehicles. In view of the strike, most of the government offices had open only after 12 noon.

Reports coming in say that major towns across the country have also been affected by the strike enforced by CPN-M against petro-price hike. nepalnews.com