KATHMANDU: At the time when the protests have been staged against the government for failing to handle the coronavirus crisis, the Ministry of Home Affairs has warned action against protestors for violating the lockdown.

Issuing a statement on Thursday, the Home Ministry said that it been paying serious attention to the holding demonstrations, staging sit-ins and calling on the public to gather at certain places through social media.

In a statement issued by Joint Secretary Kedar Nath Sharma, it has been stated the concerned Chief District Officer can take action on a person for disobeying the lockdown order and the person can be fined and jailed under Section 3 of the Infectious Diseases Act 2020 BS.

The statement has reminded that provision under Section 3 of the Infectious Diseases Act, 2020 BS which states that a person who neglects or obstructs and does not follow the lockdown can be fined from Rs 100 to Rs 600 and jailed for one to six months.

People have been staging protests against the KP Oli-led government accusing the latter of being opaque even during the coronavirus pandemic and unable to control the deadly virus.

The protestors have demanded that the expenses incurred in the procurement of testing kits and medical goods be made transparent, RDT testing be stopped and the decision to impose additional tax be withdrawn.

Nepal is under lockdown imposed by the government to stem coronavirus pandemic. This is the biggest demonstration taken place ever since the country went into the lockdown on March 24.

Besides Kathmandu, peaceful demonstrations were held in Pokhara, Dharan, Chitwan, Birgunj and other parts of the country.

Youths across the country have created a network ‘Enough is Enough’ on Facebook to coordinate demonstrations against the government’s apathy toward controlling the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The protestors have also criticized the government for failing to manage quarantine facilities.