The Seven Party Alliance (SPA) supporters and people of various walks of life have been continued demonstrations on Sunday, the 11th day of the general strike called by the SPA.
According to latest reports, protest rallies were organised in different parts of Kathmandu, Kirtipur, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.
Twenty journalists were arrested from a demonstration organized by Press Chautari Nepal in Bhotahiti of Kathmandu. Press Chautari Nepal organized the demonstration protesting the recent attacks on journalists.
The arrested journalists include Bal Krishna Chapagain, president, Press Chautari Nepal, Bharat Raj Pokhrel, Shambhu Shrestha, Ganesh Basnet, Gagan Bista, Rajendra Fuyal, Bhimsen Raj Bahak and Dev Raj Rimal among others.
Issuing a press statement the Federation of Nepalese Journalists has condemned the continuous arrests and attacks on journalists and asked the government to immediately release them.
Likewise, 12 protestors have been taken into custody from Anamnagar area from a rally organized by the ethnic and minority community.
Protesters vandalized six vehicles for defying the general strike in the morning.
Meanwhile, protestors also vandalized the Himalayan Bank Limited Branch at Pulchowk. According to bank sources, the protestors broke most of the windowpanes of the first floor of the Bank (the shutters of the ground floor was closed). Police arrived at the scene to disperse the protestors, but students of Pulchowk Engineering Campus continued throwing stones from the campus premises at the main road.
All the vehicles remained off the road on Sunday. Business houses and educational institutions remained closed for the 11th consecutive day, while work in government offices were also affected due to the protest of civil servants in support of the pro-democracy movement of the country.
Employees of corporation and banks have expressed solidarity to the ongoing movement and brought office work to a complete halt.
Various professional organizations and labour unions have also expressed solidarity to the ongoing pro-democracy movement.
Valley people have started facing an acute shortage of daily consumer goods due to the strike.
There are reports of similar demonstrations in different parts of the country from early morning. Protestors demanded early restoration of democracy and human rights in the country.
Meanwhile, at least three tourism entrepreneurs were arrested from a peaceful sit-in protest, organised by the Democratic Tourism Society Nepal at Thamel area in Kathmandu on Sunday morning. Police intervened and arrested Jyoti Adhikari, Ram Nepal and Shanker Adhikari. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
The SPA on Friday decided to intensify the nationwide strike from Saturday, after partially relaxing it for a couple of days. The SPA called the general strike for the restoration of complete democracy in the country from 4th.
Five demonstrators were killed and some 1,500 people injured during the protest programme launched by SPA from March 24.
Of the injured, over two-dozen are in critical condition, reports say. nepalnews.com pb Apr 16 06