Strike disrupts life in Nepal, 60 arrested

KATHMANDU: Normal life was paralysed in Nepal as pro-democracy parties kicked off a four-day nationwide strike on Thursday urging King Gyanendra to restore democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom.

At least 60 people were arrested from various parts of Kathmandu for defying government ban on demonstrations even as hundreds of party activists gathered in small numbers chanting anti-King slogans and waving their party flags.

Schools and colleges remained closed, major markets shut down, transport services halted and factories and businesses were closed responding to the strike call, tipped as a "decisive agitation," by the Seven Party Alliance.

Army and riot police have intensified patrolling, especially in the capital as it is the centre of the strike, while the government has warned people not to come to Kathmandu.

In a massive crackdown to thwart the general strike, the royal government had on Wednesday arrested over 200 people and clamped a night-time curfew in the capital and adjoining Lalitpur district.

As soon as dozens of people took out rallies defying ban in Chhetrapati, Ason, Gongabu, Koteshwor, Kalanki, Bhaktapur and Patan, police arrested many of them, Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh said.