Normal life has been affected in the capital since early Wednesday morning due to the strike called by various students unions protesting the recent increase in petroleum prices.

No public and private vehicles are seen plying on the road as banda enforces have descended in the streets to block traffic movement. Shops and marketplaces have remained closed due to the banda.

Wednesday´s Valley banda is part of the protest program earlier announced by thirteen students unions including  All Nepal National Free Students Union, ANNFSU-Revolutionary and Nepal Students Union,  to press the government not to implement the decision to hike fuel prices.

The agitating students bodies have made it clear that they would not sit for talks with the government unless the price hike decision is rolled back. They have also threatened to launch a sterner nationwide second phase of protest if the decision is not revoked.

Last week, the Nepal Oil Corporation, the state oil monopoly, had increased the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LP Gas by an average of 11 per cent citing recurrent losses.

Source: Republica

Photographs by Nirnit Tandukar