By Indra Adhikari
Life in Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, seemed in hurry and haste as soon as the ten-hour-long curfew was relaxed at 6:00 on Friday evening.
People were anxious to know what had happened throughout the day. People lined up along the main streets. Radios were close to their ears to hear news form local FM stations. Many of them were waiting for vehicles but there were only private motors, motor cycles and taxis plying in the streets.
Cadres of political parties and students of Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhavan, began their protests rally at Baneshwor chowk just a few minutes before it was 6 p. m. Security forces deployed in the area tried to disperse the crowd. Thank God, they did not use force to control the situation.
Large number of security personnel had gathered near Old Bus-park, Ratnapark, Bhotahity and Jamal areas to dismiss the possible agitation by political parties and their allies. Over a dozen private trucks and a fire fighter were kept ready in the area as the people were speeding off to their houses after beating the day-long curfew.
Life was suffocating. Few shops along the main streets opened for evening businesses. Buyers were queuing before them with fear that they would not be able to collect daily consumable items. Most of the medical clinics and vegetable shops were open in the evening while many others remained closed.
People looked unsure of what was going on around them. As this reporter tried to get their comments, most of them slid away. They feared talking to strangers and looked as if some spies were following them.
People who had come out of their 10-hour “confinement” within their houses feared to go near agitating mobs and instantly rushed towards safe destination once agitators were dispersed by security forces.
A student of Ratna Rajya Campus, Dinesh, said he spent all day watching TV. He said that a government that is responsible and accountable could not impose curfews just to foil peaceful mass meetings.
The rush was obvious. All have to reach their residence before the re-imposition of curfew only a couple of hours away– at 9 p.m.