Normal life in the capital Kathmandu has been partially affected due to the Bagmati zone bandh (shutdown strike) called by Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal on Monday.

The party enforced the day-long shutdown strike protesting against the plans to federate the country along ethnic and regional lines and demanding election to the local bodies be held at the earliest.

Although there is less traffic on the road since early morning due to sporadic instances of violence where bandh enforcers vandalised taxis and other public vehicles in Kalanki, Kalikasthan and other areas, the bandh has been defied in many parts of the city with shops doing brisk business and people coming out with their private vehicles.

However, shops and businesses in main market centers remain closed while office goers as well as general commuters are having tough time reaching to their destination due to less number of public vehicles plying on the road.

Large number of security personnel have been mobilised to prevent any untoward incidents during the bandh. However, apart from reports of arrest of some bandh organisers and minor clashes at some places , the bandh has been largely peaceful so far.

Rastriya Janamorcha, which is led by Chitra Bahadur k.C, has been imposing shutdown across many parts of the country since the past few months against federalism. nepalnews.com

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