By IRNA,
New Delhi : Street violence erupted in the Nepalese capital and outlying districts Thursday as public anger grew over an indefinite strike by the Maoists that has shut down the country for the past five days, with residents clashing with the former rebels.
Two people were reported killed as locals defying the Maoists cadres attempted to open their commercial establishments, attend offices and send their children to schools, triggering clashes with the former rebels in which cars were torched and building damaged.
As political crisis deepened in the county over Maoists demands for a change in government, the party strongman Prachanda met Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood, PTI reported.
The meeting in the wake of efforts being made by ruling coalition government to diffuse the crisis by feelers to the Maoists came at a time when main Opposition has stepped up anti-India rhetoric.
The Maoists did not disclose the details of the meeting at Prachanda’s residence at Nayabazaar in the Capital. Nepalese political leaders are struggling to meet a May 28 deadline to finish the drafting of a new constitution as stipulated by the peace process that brought the civil war to an end in 2006.
The Maoists, who have around 35 per cent of the seats in parliament, want the government disbanded, followed by the formation of a new coalition government led by them to rescue the peace process and draft a new constitution.
The parleys between the ruling coalition and the Maoists are yet end the political deadlock and the people’s ire is growing as they struggle with acute shortages of essential supplies.
The police said a number of clashes took place between the anti-Maoists demonstrators and Maoists supporters and at places tear gas shells were burst and baton charge resorted to separate the warring groups. Police said two people were killed in the strike related violence in Kathmandu and Makawanpur district in central Nepal.
Meanwhile, scores of Indian tourists have been stranded at Beni in Myagdi district of northern Nepal due to the general strike launched by Maoists to topple the 22-party government. More than 100 tourists returning from trekking in Dhaulagiri and Jomsom areas in northern Nepal have been stranded in Beni, according to Nepal Tourism Board.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement United Nations Children Emergency Fund and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal have expressed serious concern over the use of children in agitation by the Maoists.
UCPN-Maoist formed Nepal’s first post-royal government in August 2008 after the former rebels emerged as the largest party in the April constituent assembly polls.
Political tensions have been high in Nepal since the government led by the Maoists resigned last year amid a dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav over the reinstatement of former army chief Rukmangad Katawal, who was dismissed by the Prachanda-led government last May.