Transport Workers Protest Nepal: There was a ruckus in Kathmandu, the capital of the neighboring country Nepal. Transport workers torched vehicles and vandalized shopping malls in Kathmandu on Monday (February 13) night. The protesters also clashed with the police.
News agency ANI has shared the video of the disturbance in Kathmandu. You can see how the protesters have burnt the vehicles there. It is being told that the public transport of the Kathmandu Valley had come to a standstill since afternoon as the transport entrepreneurs started protesting around the New Buspark area. Transport workers blocked a section of the Ring Road around the capital Kathmandu in the evening. After that the police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the angry people, but could not bring the situation under control.
#WATCH , Nepal: Vehicle operators clash with Police in Kathmandu. Transport workers set several vehicles on fire and vandalized shopping malls. pic.twitter.com/U07vAfjI9d
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2023
Lathi charge on protesters and situation worsened
The ruckus intensified when there was a clash between the police and the protesters. Angry people set two police vehicles on fire. One vehicle belonged to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Balaju, while the other vehicle was a patrolling van used by the police. The agitators also burnt down a temporary police shelter in the area, they also set fire to temporary traffic police posts. The police had also lathi-charged the protesters, but the number of injured on both sides is yet to be known.
Protest against new traffic rules
The leaders leading the agitators argued that those new traffic rules are not in the interest of public transport. As per the new rules, the traffic police in the valley are charging a fine of NR 1500 for traffic rule violations, which is higher than NR 500 for a first time offence. People associated with the transport industry also complain that the traffic police is also charging a hefty fine for parking vehicles on the roadside.
‘Public transport will be stopped from February 14’
The agitating transport operators have demanded that in the absence of organized bus stations, they should be allowed to park their vehicles anywhere. He said that his protest is against the new traffic rules. Transport operators have also announced plans to halt public transport within the Kathmandu Valley from Tuesday.
The Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal, All Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Association and Nepal Transport Workers Union issued a joint press statement saying that they will not operate vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley for the sake of protest.
