The government has imposed a ban on public gatherings in the areas within the Ring Road with effect from January 17 to check Maoist infiltration in the protest programmes.

Issuing a press statement on Monday, the Home Ministry has appealed to the seven agitating political parties to call off their mass meeting in the capital slated for January 20 saying there might be infiltration of Maoists in the mass meeting.

The Ministry also asked the agitating political parties to come to the negotiation tableto find an outlet to the present crisis.

The Ministry has also urged people to refrain from participating in such mass meetings.

The Ministry also said that security has been beefed up in the capital to check any untoward incidents and urged people to cooperate with the security check ups.

The District Administration Offices of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts have also imposed curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. with effect from Monday until further notice.

The alliance of seven opposition political parties are holding mass meeting in the capital on January 20 as part of their protest against the municipal polls slated for February 8.

Leaders of the alliance however said that they will hold the mass meeting at any cost despite the government’s prohibition.