Normal life paralysed in Nepal during general strike

Kathmandu, Feb 04 (PTI):
The normal life was paralysed across Nepal on Thursday during a nation-wide general strike called by the Nepal Communist Party’s splinter faction-led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’ to oppose the appointment of office bearers and members of various constitutional bodies by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led caretaker government.
Major markets, educational institutions, offices and factories were shut down while transport services were disrupted during the strike.
The government had mobilised at least 5,000 security personnel in Kathmandu Valley to prevent any untoward incident. Only few motorbikes were seen moving around the capital city.
Meanwhile, police have arrested at least 157 cadres of the Prachanda-led faction for enforcing the general strike in different parts of the country. Nepal Communist Party’s Central Committee members Ashta Laxmi Shakya, Himal Sharma and Amrita Thapa were among those arrested. The protesters vandalised at least three vehicles in Kathmandu for defying the strike.
“Eighty people have been arrested from the Kathmandu Valley, while the remaining 77 were arrested from outside the Valley,” Senior Superintendent of Police Basanta Kunwar, spokesperson for Nepal Police, told reporters.
Her said that those involved in vandalism and arson have been arrested.
According to the Metropolitan Traffic Police Kathmandu, a taxi was set on fire by demonstrators near Gongabu Bus Park early in the morning. Another taxi and a microbus were vandalised at Swoyambhu and Chabahil areas on the outskirt of Kathmandu. President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed as many as 32 office bearers to 11 constitutional bodies.
Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana administered the oath of office to almost four dozen people in various constitutional bodies in the presence of President Bhandari. The Prachanda-led faction has alleged that they were appointed unconstitutionally.