KATHMANDU: The District Administration Office in Kathmandu has implemented a prohibitory order in the areas surrounding the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas, and the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar.

The Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Jeetendra Basnet, issued the order last night, prohibiting gatherings in groups of more than five persons for protests, processions, sit-ins, gheraos, hunger strikes, and assemblies.

The order, effective from November 21, will remain in force for up to 30 days, as stated by Basnet.

The prohibited areas include Sheetal Niwas up to Pabitra Workshop towards the east, up to the canal through Samakhushi towards the west, up to the South-East gate of the National Police Training Academy towards the north, and up to the road leading to the Police Hospital in the south.

Similarly, the order designates the areas from Pabitra Workshop Chowk to Nepal Rastra Bank Chowk towards Baluwatar and from the Speaker’s residence up to 100 meters in the west-south of the road heading to Gairidhara as prohibited zones.

The decision to declare these areas as prohibited zones stems from the understanding that gatherings in groups for sit-ins and protests near the residences and offices of distinguished persons may jeopardize peace and security and disrupt public service delivery.

Earlier, the local administration had issued a prohibitory order in the Maitaghar-Baneshwor, and Pulchowk areas of Lalitpur.