KATHMANDU: Scrap dealers in Kathmandu have stepped up protests against Mayor Balen Shah, accusing him of unleashing a bulldozer terror against their businesses.
On Tuesday, scrap workers and traders surrounded the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) office in Kamaladi, chanting slogans and carrying placards with sharp messages against the mayor. They demanded an immediate halt to what they described as harassment, assaults, and forced demolitions carried out by the city police under Shah’s leadership.
The demonstrators have put forward a five-point demand, which includes, guaranteeing the constitutional right to pursue their trade and occupation, stopping physical assaults, intimidation, and demolition of scrap businesses by KMC authorities, taking action against city police involved in excesses, ensuring the safety of scrap workers, collectors, and traders and compensating for damages caused to the scrap industry over the past two years.
The protests began on Monday with a sit-in at the KMC office gates and continued into Tuesday, drawing larger crowds of traders and laborers.
Protesters warned that unless their demands are addressed, they will escalate their demonstrations further and hold the mayor directly responsible for the unrest.
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