KATHMANDU, Feb 14: The agitating transport laborers have vandalized the Lotse Mall at Naya Buspark in Kathmandu.
The transport workers on Monday evening took to the streets, leading to clashes, vandalism and arson in the area by protesting the traffic police’s decision to hike the fine for traffic rules violation. They also vandalized the Lotse Mall run near the Naya Buspark.
The workers have demanded to scrap the exorbitant penalty amount for traffic rules violations, release of the suspended license, provision of the physical infrastructures, parking and pick and drop facility, among other things.
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The protestors have allegedly stolen the mobile phones from the shops run in the business complex. Human Resource Development Chief of Lotse multipurpose company, Pankaj Malla, said that property worth millions is destroyed from the vandalism and lootings.
Currently, the security situation has been beefed up in the area by deploying a large number of police personnel.
Tensions rose high in the areas after the workers under the banners of different political parties-aligned associations staged the protests. The protestors pelted stones at the police and also set two police vans on fire this evening. Likewise, the protestors torched a temporary police beat located at Balaju Chowk, according to the Senior Superintendent of Police Himalaya Kumar Shrestha. It is said that 10 police persons and some protestors sustained injuries in the protest.
Meanwhile, the government has appealed to the agitating side to sit for a talk on Tuesday.
Director General of Department of Transport Tulsi Gautam said that the transport workers have been invited for talks at 8 am on Tuesday.
