Kathmandu, Jan. 1: The first of the two-day Nepal bandh (closure) was largely peaceful with no acts of violence reported.

The effect of the bandh was minimal with no untoward incident, according to the Spokesman of the Home Ministry. In many areas the shops were open and vehicles were also seen on the road.

Police took into custody 23 persons in Kathmandu, 22 in Lalitpur and two in Jhapa for trying to forcefully close the shops or creating obstructions on the roads.

Security was tight in Kathmandu with police in riot gear patrolling the main centres of the Kathmandu valley. The Home Ministry’s spokesman said enough precautionary measures will also be taken tomorrow (Tuesday).

The police reported no incidents of violence throughout the day. There were no protests on the streets of Kathmandu till late afternoon and there were some vehicles, mainly motorcycles and government vehicles, plying in many areas. Buses of Sajha Yatayat were seen running to several destinations. The police said on the outskirts of the city more than 80 per cent of the shops were open and life was close to normal. But in the inner city areas, many shops were closed.

But in the main business centre of New Road and its vicinity, almost all the shops were shut.

Meanwhile, the government has announced Rs. 100,000 compensation to the family of Kushilal Yadav, who had died in an incident on Saturday in Rajbiraj. The government has also decided to arrange for the medical treatment of others who were injured.

A press release of the Home Ministry also said the police are searching for those who put explosives in the houses of former Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi, General Secretary of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala and Minister for State for Education and Sports Dilendra Prasad Badu. It also said the government would take every necessary action against those involved and to discourage such incidents.

However, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ramchandra Poudel has said bandhs are completely a wrong form of protest and the Nepali Congress and its sister organisations have vowed never to resort to this form of protest irrespective of whether it is in power or not.

“The political parties who are resorting to bandhs have only their petty political interests with utter disregard for the people and their basic rights.

Speaking to the media at the Home Ministry today, he said the country’s tourism and economy have been the main target of bandhs while at the same time causing severe difficulties to the common people.

He also said those who organise bandhs are only showing their autocratic character and they can never be the true friends of Nepal or the Nepalis. In Bhaktapur, the trolley bus services did not ply while most of the shops remained closed.

At a mass meeting held at Sallaghari, various speakers including president of Nepal Peasants and Workers Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe said that the present government was to be blamed for the violence, terror and insecurity in the country at present.

In Kabhre district, vehicles kept off the road at Panchkhal, Dapcha, Nala, Panauti, Dhulikhel, Khopasi, Banepa, Sanga, Mangaltar and other places. However, a few motorbikes, cars and jeeps were seen to be running.

Though no untoward incident occurred in the district, attendance in government offices was thin, according to assistant chief district officer Umesh Paudel.

In Dolakha district, the Bandh evoked almost no response, according Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravi Raj Shrestha.

The main bazaars such as Chautara, Bahrabise, Lamosangu and Melamchi were fully open and the schools also were open as usual.

In Dhading district, shops opened partially but vehicles completely stayed off the roads.

Outside the district headquarters along the Prithvi Highway, shops were half open, means of transport did not ply the roads but no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district, according to Inspector of Police at the District Police Office, Gajuri Tek Bahadur Tamang.

At Hetauda Industrial District and Hetauda Bazaar, the Bandh evoked a response and all educational institutions remained closed, it is learnt from police sources.

Bharatpur, Ratnanagar, Tandi and Parsa Bazaars of Chitwan district remained closed. However, some pharmaceutical outlets, tea stalls and fruit shops were open.

Reports of the partial effect of Bandh have been received from Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Janakprudham and Dhangaghi Municipalities, and Mahottari, Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa, Kapilvastu and Dang districts.