Maoists disrupt highway demanding it be declared peace zone
The Araniko unit of the Maoist aligned All Nepal Workers’ Association has demanded that the Araniko highway be declared a peace zone.
Saying that the police administration didn’t take any action against persons involved in beating a driver of a bus plying the route near Dhulikhel recently, the Araniko unit of the Maoist labor wing said all vehicular movement in the highway has been suspended until the government guarantees security in the highway.
Issuing a statement, the Araniko unit chairman Dirna Lal Shrestha has accused the police administration of protecting the persons guilty of attacking the bus-driver instead of taking action against them.
“We humbly request the government to guarantee adequate security in the highway for the passengers, laborers and vehicles by curbing the criminal activities taking place in the highway,” the statement said, adding, “the drivers should be able to operate their vehicles without any kind of fear in the highway after declaring it a peace zone. Until we don’t see that we would be forced to suspend all vehicular movement in the highway.”
In their 10-point demand, the Araniko unit has also demanded action against District Superintendent of Police who they blame of protecting the guilty and persons involved in the beating up of the driver. They also demanded that the name of persons involved in manhandling transport workers and passengers be made public and administration take stringent action against them. nepalnews.com ag Oct 29 07
