Kathmandu: Agitating transport workers in Nepal on Monday (February 13) torched two police vehicles and damaged public and private properties as they hit the road against traffic police excesses. Public transport in the Kathmandu Valley was paralyzed since afternoon as transport entrepreneurs started protesting around the New Buspark area. Transport workers blocked a section of the Ring Road around the capital Kathmandu.
Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the agitators but could not bring the situation under control. Angry people set two police vehicles on fire. One belonged to the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Balaju while the other was a patrol vehicle used by the police.
The agitators also burnt a makeshift police shelter in the area as they intensified the protest. They set fire to traffic cones and makeshift traffic police posts. The police also lathicharged the protesters but the number of injured from both the sides is not known.
#Watch , Nepal: Drivers clash with police in Kathmandu. Transport personnel torched several vehicles and vandalized shopping malls pic.twitter.com/U07vAfjI9d– ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2023
The agitating parties argued that the 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 violation, which goes up to Nr 500 for a first time offence.
Transport entrepreneurs also complained that the traffic police were charging fines even for parking their vehicles on the roadside, which according to them was too much of a burden.
The agitating transport operators have demanded that in the absence of organized bus stations, they should be allowed to park anywhere. He said the protest was against the new traffic rules. Transport entrepreneurs have also announced plans to suspend 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 would not operate public vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley as a sign of protest.
He has accused the government of not implementing the agreement between the government and the transport workers. Bhim Jwala Rai, president of the Nepal Transport Independent Workers Organization, said he was forced to call the public transport strike because of the government’s indifference to their demands.
The agitators also demanded punishment for those involved in the attack on a bus driver, which according to them is directed by Lhotse Multi-Purpose Company – a private contractor operating the New Buspark area.
Stones were hurled at a glass-enclosed building in Monday’s agitation, while a shop was ransacked and agitators threw electronics into the street.