Kathmandu, Sept 01: Nepal government today banned all public meetings and rallies in the capital ahead of protests planned by political parties and stepped up violence following withdrawal of ceasefire by Maoists. "The ban has been issued in view of the growing security threat in the country," Information and Communications Minister Kamal Thapa said.
The ban will take effect tomorrow and will be in place in Kathmandu and the cities of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur until September 23, state radio reported. A night curfew will also be imposed in Kirtipur municipality, on the outskirts of the capital city, it added.
"Maoists have been threatening and disturbing the local people of Kirtipur. So the curfew has been imposed," the radio said.
Maoists had withdrawn their seven-month ceasefire last Wednesday and in stepped up violence over the weekend, 21 Maoists and six security personnel were killed.
Protesting King Gyanendra's dismissal of the elected government in October 2002, Nepal's five major political parties were planning massive agitation from Thursday seeking fresh elections. Bureau Report