Students union call banda cripples life in valley

KATHMANDU, JAN 25 -

Normal life in the Capital has been crippled on Wednesday due to the valley banda called by thirteen students union affiliated to various political parties protesting against fuel price hike.

Transportation has come to a grinding halt in the valley due to the banda.

Entire market areas, academic institutions, industries, have been shut down in the Capital owing to the banda.

The students have been protesting since last Wednesday after the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation hiked prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas by Rs 175 per cylinder, diesel and kerosene by Rs 9 and petrol by Rs 10 per litre.

Students threaten self-immolation

Ten students have threatened to light themselves up in front of the Nepal Oil Corporation office if the recent hike in petroleum prices is not rolled back.

The students, pursuing bachelors degree in engineering and studying in the +2 levels in various colleges in the Valley, organised a press conference at the Reporters' Club on Tuesday. They said they would immolate themselves at 10 am on Saturday by wrapping themselves in national flags if the government fails to meet their demands. The students, who termed themselves as oppressed youths, said the price hike has resulted in the rise in prices of daily goods and transportation costs. "The government's irresponsible behaviour has forced us to think of killing ourselves," said Bishu Thapa, one of the students. 

Source: Kantipur