The Professional Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD) staged an hour-long sit-in at the main entrance of Singh Durbar, the seat of the government, Monday morning as part of the previously announced protest programme to pressure the government into starting a probe into the kidnapping and manhandling of the promoters of Biratnagar-based Nobel Medical College, and action against the guilty.

Addressing a gathering at the Singha Durbar main gate, representatives of various professional organisations demanded resignation of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula saying that he has failed to provide security to them. They also warned that they would be forced to wage a stronger protest movement if action is not taken against the guilty.

Singha Durbar area falls under the prohibitory zone where the government has barred all kinds of protests including sit-ins, strikes and rallies. On numerous occasions in the past police have used force to prevent demonstrations in the area. However, today no such untoward incident was reported.

Bal Krishna Chapagain, chairman of Press Chautari Nepal said professionals have increasingly starting to feel insecure because of the Maoists. He said the home minister should resign for failing to provide security to them.

He said the protests are aimed at drawing the attention of the government and the Maoists towards growing insecurity in education institutions and workplaces.

Echoing Chapagain’s views, Dr Kedar Narsingh K.C, general secretary of Nepal Medical Association (NMA), said that if the Maoists don’t publicly apologise for the incident all the doctors and health professionals of the country would halt all work.

N-PABSON’s Subhash Neupane and representatives of various teachers’ organisations said that they would be forced to wage a strong protest movement if the home minister doesn’t resign soon. They also announced a nationwide closure of all the educational institutions of the country from Thursday to pressure the government into fulfilling their demands.

Prior to the sit-in, hundreds of teachers, doctors, journalists, professors, lawyers and owners of educational institutions had marched from Maitighar to Singha Durbar.

Organising a press conference in the capital on Sunday, representatives of a number of professional organisations had announced various protest programmes. On November 27 and 28, they will submit memos to the Prime Minister, Speaker of the parliament and leaders of various political parties, demanding tough measures to check threats, abduction and extortion. Similarly, a protest rally has been planned for Nov 29.