In an apparent attempt to thwart a major demonstration of seven agitating political parties, the government on Thursday evening announced to impose daytime curfew from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
Issuing a public notice, the Home Ministry imposed the curfew orders within the Ring Road in Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City and parts of Bhaktapur districts, according to state-owned Nepal Television.

The ministry also asked the concerned authorities to make arrangements to bring government employees to their offices before the start of the curfew – in order to give continuity to government services.

The Home Ministry notice came within hours after the arrest of dozens of political leaders and human rights activists in Kathmandu.

Senior leaders of the seven-party alliance had announced to organise their mass meeting in Kathmandu despite the government ban on rallies and public gatherings.

Nighttime curfew orders are already in effect in the capital since Tuesday.

The government has said these restrictions have been imposed in view of possible Maoist infiltration in the parties’ demonstrations with a motive to trigger violence.