Strike shuts down Kathmandu over double murder blamed on Maoists

Nov 20, 2008, 6:01 GMT

Kathmandu - A general strike over the alleged murders of two youths by Maoist cadres shut down the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Thursday.

The crippling strike closed main markets, educational institutions, offices and halted private and public transport.

The strike was called by various groups, including those supported by the Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist Leninists, which is part of the coalition government.

The groups claimed two youths were abducted and killed by members of the Maoist youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), in Dhading district, about 50 kilometres west of the Nepalese capital.

The bodies were recovered by police on Tuesday, nearly a month after the two were abducted.

Police said strike supporters clashed with YCL cadres in Kathmandu after pelting stones and other missiles at the Maoist office.

Several vehicles were also attacked and vandalised by the strikers, who accused the drivers of disregarding their strike call.

A few public and private vehicles that were operating early Thursday morning were forced to stop their services, police said.

The strike came a day after protests broke out in Kathmandu following the discovery of the bodies.

On Wednesday, irate demonstrators attacked and damaged dozens of vehicles and set fire to a YCL office in Kathmandu to express their anger over the alleged murder.

Meanwhile, YCL chief Ganeshman Pun denied his organisation was involved in the murders.

'It is a conspiracy to tarnish the image of our party,' Pun said. 'Our cadres were not involved in the murder of the two youths and we demand an investigation into the incident by the government.'

The Maoists have come under severe criticism over the activities of their youth wing. In the past, the YCL has been accused of carrying out abductions, extortion and intimidation of its political opponents.

Nepalese political parties have put pressure on the Maoists to disband YCL, saying it amounts to a paramilitary organization.