HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

At least 40 street vendors and four police personnel were injured in a clash between vendors and riot police at Shanti Batika today. The clash ensued after police rained lathis to foil the one-hour chakkajam that street vendors had enforced as part of their protest against the government’s decision to drive them away from the Capital’s streets.

A police official said cops lathi-charged the demonstrators after they tried to manhandle security personnel, who were convincing them not to obstruct the traffic. According to police, around 40 demonstrators got injured in their action. Of them, Devaki Kharel, 45, of Kavre, has sustained injuries in various parts of his body. Four police personnel, including Constable Krishna Nepal, were also injured.

Street vendors have been staging a series of protests for withdrawal of the government’s decision. Nepal Self-employment Trade Workers’ Association, United Trade Entrepreneurs’ Organisation of Nepal and National Self-employment Trade Association, aligned respectively with CPN-UML, UCPM-Maoist and CPN-Maoist have expressed solidarity with the protesters. They had submitted a memorandum to the party offices of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and the CPN-Maoist to draw attention towards their demands.

The vendors maintain they have no option but to opt for protests as removal from the streets will rob them of means of sustenance. They reminded that Home Minister Bamdev Gautam’s pledge to provide them an alternative space to run their businesses has not materialised. According to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the city has around 5,000 street vendors. The metropolis has allocated Khula Manch near Ratna Park for the vendors.

Published on: 23 April 2014 | The Himalayan Times