Butwal, December 1
The movement against the government-sponsored Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to restructure Province 5, is growing more violent and anarchic by the day. On the second day of the protest as well, CPN-UML cadres shut Butwal of Rupandehi district. Protesters also vandalised Hotel Kasturi in Butwal, Rupandehi district, accusing the hotel of defying their strike.
In Devinagar, they smashed a motorcycle whereas in Dipnagar, the protesters turned their wrath on a rickshaw. In Chauraha, police intervened and prevented a group from vandalising a passenger bus.
The movement seeking undivided Province 5 has thrown life out of gear here.
On Thursday also, student activists took out rallies from Butwal Multiple Campus, Siddhartha Gautam Buddha Campus and Commerce Campus. The rallies turned into a corner meet at Milanchok after passing through main thoroughfares. Prakash Rana, central vice-president of the Nepali Congress-aligned Nepal Students’ Union, and others said: No matter what, the movement will continue unless and until the government corrects the decision on border demarcation (the decision to split Province 5).
From early morning, the CPN-UML-aligned ANNFSU and ANNFSU (Sixth), which is close to Rastriya Janamorcha, staged demonstrations in Butwal by burning tyres. Cadres of the ruling NC and CPN-Maoist Centre also demonstrated against the plot to split Province 5.
Meanwhile, UML cadres shut Bhairahawa against the design. Cadres of the ANNFSU and Youth Association Nepal, an UML-aligned organisation, staged protests by burning tyres. Because of demonstrations, long and short-route vehicles have stayed off the road. Educational institutes have closed. The strike has partially affected marketplaces. Banks and financial institutions have remained open.
