Two day nationwide bandh (shutdown strike) called by the Joint Struggle Committee comprising organisations representing Bahuns, Khas Chhetris, Thakuris, and Dalits against against ethnicity and identity-based federalism concluded at 5.00 pm on Friday.

The bandh paralised life throughout the country including Kathmandu.The bandh was enforced by Chhetri Samaj, Brahman Samaj, Thakuri Samaj, Dalit Janajagaran Sewa, Dashnami Samaj, Khas Chhetri Ekata Samaj, among other, protesting against plans to federate the country along ethnic lines and demanding that Brahmin and Khas communities of the country be granted janjati (indigenous) status.

Vehicular movement came to a grinding halt in Kathmandu including major towns like Pokhara, Biratnagar and Birgunj as both short and long route buses and other public and private vehicles stayed off the roads due to fear of attacks while shops and businesses in the market, industries remained mostly closed. Schools and colleges also remained shut down.

At least nine people were arrested from Kathmandu and Lalitpur while enforcing bandh.

A group set a taxi on fire near the Apex College in Madhya Baneshwor in Kathmandu in the morning. nepalnews.com