Strike cripples normal life in Kathmandu valley

Normal life was disrupted in the Nepalese capital and adjoining districts on Monday due to a strike called by the dominant ethnic group of Kathmandu valley demanding autonomy for the region.

Normal life was disrupted in the Nepalese capital and adjoining districts on Monday due to a strike called by the dominant ethnic group of Kathmandu valley demanding autonomy for the region.

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The Newars have called a general strike in central Nepal to press for their demand to declare the Kathmandu valley -- where they are in majority -- an autonomous region.

The capital city wore a desert look as all the markets, schools and colleges were shut down, factories were closed and private and public transport services were halted due to the bandh called by eight organisations of Newars affiliated to the major political parties like CPN-UML, NC and the Maoists.

The protesters vandalised more than five vehicles, including a van carrying television crew, for defying the strike and blocked the city roads.

The activists also organised a torch rally on Sunday in various parts of Kathmandu to press for autonomous status for the valley.

The other major demands of the eight groups were halt of construction of an outer ring road here as it would reduce fertile land, not to include the valley under Central government territory and to stop uncontrolled migration of people to the region in order to protect environment, natural resources and maintain peace and security in the valley.