After the dissolution of parliament on December 20, as per the decision of the Council of Ministers and revocation of appointments made to various constitutional bodies, the Dahal-Nepal faction had announced nation-wide general strike on February 4 demanding restoration of the dissolved House of Representatives. Fifteen vehicles were vandalized and one taxi was set on fire for violating the strike.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a statement saying they had drawn attention towards the arrest during a peaceful protest. It is mentioned in the press release that during the general strike and demonstration called by the Communist Party of Nepal, more people were injured by the police using excessive force.
Province 1: Police have arrested nine people, including six in Morang and three in Sunsari, on charges of participating in the general strike in Province 1. There have been six incidents of vandalism in Province 1. A tea shop has been vandalized.
Province 2: Various districts witnessed clash between the protestors and police in which 13 policemen were injured, one of 40 cadres have been arrested. During the clash, CPN leader Matrika Yadav, former minister Ram Chandra Jha, Uday Barbariya Yadav, Mayor of Dhanusha’s Shaheed Municipality, Pradip Sah, 30, of Hanspur Municipality-4 and Sabila Municipality-2 clashed after police tried to stop them.
The injured have been identified as Kariram Yadav, 52, Umesh Kumar Sah, 51, of Pethiagachhi, Janakpur Sub-Metropolis-6, Shiva Kumar Goit, 36, of Bideh Municipality-4, Thadi and Suresh Kapar, 44, of Sahid Municipality-5, Pachaharwa. Lal Babu Rai, 32, a resident of Ramnagar Municipality-1, was injured in the clash. He is undergoing treatment at the Provincial Hospital, Janakpur.
Bagmati Province: Vehicles have been vandalized in districts of Bagmati including Kathmandu due to the general strike. Also, CPN Committee member and Bagmati Province in-charge Ashtalakshmi Shakya, central leaders Hitman Shakya, and total of 69 protesters including Dr Bijay Poudel, Amrita Thama Magar and Krishna KC have been arrested.
Gandaki Province: Police have arrested 16 cadres, including central member Pratap Lal Shrestha, from Damauli in Tanahu district, despite the partial impact of the general strike in Gandaki.
The general strike has had a partial effect on Lumbini and Karnali. Most of the markets, educational institutions, factories and public transport in the district headquarters remained closed since morning, but government offices remained open.
Sudur Paschim: During the general strike, clashes broke out between Prachanda and Madhav supporters and police in Dadeldhura district of the Sudur Paschim Province, while journalists were beaten and mistreated by protesters in Kanchanpur district.