The government has dropped all charges against Tarun Dal leaders including Shiva Paudel, giving in to street protests and nationwide strike called by the parent party Nepali Congress. Paudel, who was killed after being injured in an assault inside Chitwan jail on 9 December, was in jail for murder of Sanjay Lama of UML-affiliated Youth Association Nepal.
The opposition NC had been on the streets for the past three days, demanding that government drop charges against the deceased and his fellow accomplices and declare him a martyr. Despite widespread condemnation and appeal from national as well as international bodies, NC went ahead with its nationwide strike on Monday. Although the party leaders promised a ‘peaceful and exemplary’ banda, there were strings of violent incidents and property destruction across the nation.
Normal lives was hit hard due to the strike and even the scheduled constitutional council meeting had to be cancelled. The party had threatened the government of similar strikes and protest programs if the cases were not withdrawn.