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Nepal king imposes curfew(The Statesman (India) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Statesman News Service KATHMANDU, Jan. 16. - A year after imposing direct rule in Nepal and claiming the security situation had improved considerably, King Gyanendra's government today imposed indefinite curfew in Kathmandu Valley as Maoist guerrillas shook up the administration with a spate of attacks during the weekend that left 12 policemen dead. Curfew from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. till further notice was clamped down in Kathmandu and inn key areas of its neighbouring municipality Lalitpur from tonight with security forces being given the power to shoot people who ventured out during curfew. The home ministry issued a notice today evening, asking residents to remain indoors from 11 p.m. till 4 p.m. Violating the curfew was punishable with one month imprisonment. If a violator proceeded to continue moving forward defying security orders, troops have been empowered to shoot, the ministry said. In case of emergency, residents could go out during curfew after obtaining permission from security authorities, the ministry said. The curfew order comes after Maoist insurgents attacked two police posts Saturday evening, killing 12 policemen and bombing various government offices in Kathmandu valley. The attacks prompted the opposition parties to express fears that the government was gearing up to impose curfew and eventually martial law with the suspension of civil liberties. The curfew is also being regarded as a step by the government to prevent a coalition of seven major opposition parties from staging an anti-king mass protest in the capital on 20 January. Opposition leaders said they feared the government would try to prevent the meeting on the pretext it could be infiltrated by the guerrillas. Political observers have been fearing escalated violence in Nepal with the countdown having begun to the civic polls, scheduled for 8 February. The major parties are boycotting the polls, calling it a farce by the government and a ploy to legitimise King Gyanendra's unconstitutional power grab with the help of the army last year. The Maoists have warned they would disrupt the polls and resumed arms against the government from this month after a four-month unilateral ceasefire called by them. |