Nepal - support general strike called by CPN-Maoist against poll's

Strike successful: 33-party alliance
KATHMANDU: The 33-party alliance on Monday thanked all its well-wishers for supporting them in making their nationwide strike a grand success. A press statement the convener of the 33-party alliance Dev Gurung released conveyed this message. Gurung urged everyone to support the transportation strike that will continue till November 19 — the election date — so as to foil the election. He claimed the transportation strike would continue until the major parties and the government opted for politics of consensus. Gurung said hundreds of his party cadres were arrested and sought their immediate release. However‚ leaders of different parties said they would defy the transportation strike of the 33-party alliance at an interaction organised by Reporters Club.

 
Bombs and various explosive devices were planted across the country in the general strike called by the CPN-Maoist-led 33-party alliance today‚ causing terror among the general public. A large number of security personnel remained busy defusing bombs and explosives planted in public places like roads‚ school premises‚ temples and offices of different political parties in several districts. Four powerful bombs were found in Siraha‚ one at the district’s trade hub Lahan and three in Golbazaar and adjoining areas. One socket and a pressure cooker bomb were found at a distance of 200 metres in Golpark of Golbazaar’s main chowk.
The bombs were defused by a bomb disposal team of Nepali Army deployed from Naya Shreenath Battalion in Choharwa. Meanwhile‚ bandh enforcers terrorised locals in Panchkhal‚ Dhulikhel‚ Panauti‚ and Rabiopi among eight other places of Kavre district today. Explosives planted at school premises‚ roads‚ and the marketplace were defused by a Nepali Army bomb disposal team. As many as four bombs went off in the adjoining areas of Udayapur district headquarters Gaighat — New Buspark‚ Purano Gaighat‚ and the north-west areas of Gaighat bazaar — at intervals of ten minutes. Security officials said the bombs were planted by the poll-opposing Mohan Baidhya-led-CPN-Maoist activists. All the market places‚ academic institutes‚ industries‚ transportation‚ among others‚ remained closed in Gaighat‚ Katari‚ Beltar‚ Mukurchi and the adjoining areas.
Though the administration tried to open shops‚ the shopkeepers couldn’t be convinced about their security. A bomb went off on the banks of Bhanu-5 of Tanahun yesterday night‚ but no human casualty was reported. The district was completely affected due to the strike. Meanwhile‚ a bomb planted at Parbat district headquarters Kushma‚ was defused by a team of Nepali Army. Hari Paudel‚ district joint secretary of CPN-Maoist has been held for his alleged involvement in planting the bomb.
One more bomb was detected from Lovely Danda of Parbat‚ which lies near the Unified CPN-Maoist party office in Parbat. Likewise‚ it is reported that a bomb planted in Sundhara Higher Secondary School premises in Rasuwa was defused by a Nepali Army team. The school has been set as an election booth. In the run-up-to the general strike‚ two bombs were found at the UCPN-Maoist party office in Bidur of Nuwakot yesterday night and another bomb planted in Battar were defused by NA. Police have nabbed five persons suspecting their involvement in the incident. Likewise‚ bandh enforcers had planted suspicious objects to terrorise people in wards 7 and 9 of Dibharna VDC in Arghakhanchi.
At least six CPN-Maoist cadres were held for stopping public vehicles for defying the bandh along the Ghorahi-Lamahi road section in Dang. A Nepali Army team defused two bombs in the Milk Product Cooperative Limited in Kolbung‚ Ilam‚ today morning. One more bomb was found at a chautari near Saraswoti Secondary School in Kolbung. Security personnel in Panchthar were hassled because of bomb hoaxes. A vehicle belonging to District Administration Office‚ Terhathum was vandalised in Amarhaat of Dharan for defying the strike. A bomb went off at the UCPN-Maoist office‚ which is under construction‚ in Dhankuta‚ today morning. A vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Peace was torched at Bhaktapur’s Bageshwori VDC. A bomb planted near Charikot Oil Store in Dolakha was defused. Two buses were burnt in the district for defying the bandh. Meanwhile‚ a bomb exploded at Musarpatti of Khariyani VDC in Dhanusha today morning.