An unidentified group of people has shot dead a taxi driver in Kathmandu on Monday—the second day of nationwide shutdown strike called by the Maoist rebels.

According to police, Jitendra Shrestha was shot dead at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday just near the gate of B & B hospital at Ring Road of Kathmandu by one of the two passengers who were traveling in the same taxi (plate no. Ba 1 Ja 8884).

The bill in the taxi showed only Rs thirty-two, according to police.

Police quoted local eyewitnesses as saying that the assailants immediately fled. Shrestha succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Police said the assailants had used a Chinese-made pistol to attack Shrestha-- a resident of nearby district of Dhading.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack on an unarmed civilian earning his bread. Police blame Maoists for the attack. There has been no word from the rebels regarding the incident as yet.

The incident came as a large number of taxis and private vehicles were seen plying in the streets of Kathmandu (with their plate nos. covered) defying the week-long strike called by the Maoists. Only few vehicles took to the streets of the capital on Sunday.

The rebels have called the strike as part of their bid to disrupt municipal polls slated on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the government’s spokesman, Shrish Shumsher Rana, told a press conference that the government had made adequate security arrangements ahead of the polls. He even asked people to go out for voting by shedding off any kind of fear.

Armed security personnel were guarding major thoroughfares of the capital today. Royal Nepalese Army personnel could be seen standing guard in front of polling booths and ward offices of Kathmandu municipality.

Most of the shops in main roads remained closed while shops in the inner parts of the city were open. Schools, colleges and private offices remained closed for the second day on Monday due to the strike. nepalnews.com by Feb 06 06

What the fug is wrong with these people ? These taxi drivers are the very people Maoist are supposed to be fighting for. How the hell are these people supposed to support their families when you take away the very elements that put food on their table ? I thought Mao's were fighting for the poor, instead they are murding the very people in broad daylight they are supposed to be protecting.

ITS EASY FOR THESE FUGGING LEADER TO SAY NEPAL BANDH
BUT VERY HARD FOR THAT BAHRIYA, TAXI DRIVER, BUS CONDUCTOR, CHUUROT PASAL, TARKARI SAHU, STREET VENDORS TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHEN YOU SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
ITS EASY FOR THESE FUGGING LEADERS CAUSE THEIR CHAMMCHAA'S WILL PROVIDE EVERYTHING FOR THEM WHILE ORDINARY RAM SHYAM AND HARI ARE STARVING THEMSELVES

It could be Maoists, but then, it could be somebody else who had personal vendetta against the deceased. Nowadays, lot of khaobadis and people will ill intentions are taking advantage of Maoist threat and lack of law & order.

Couple of years ago, a peon and his family, including an infant, were slaughtered in their home near Godavari. Initially, everybody suspected Maobadis, but then, later it turned out to be the family's relatives who wanted to take over their meagre property.

Yestai cha jamana, ke garne? (typical Nepali fatalistic view ... sarcasm intended)

it could be the government too, trying to smear maoist.

you can't trust anybody these days. these bastards will go to any level necessary to fulfill their purpose.

I DON'T GIVE A FUG ABOUT IF THIS WAS PERSONAL OR A CONSPIRACY.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY THAT SUFFER THE MOST WITH THIS NEPAL BANDH BULLSHIT. MAO'S CLAIM THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THESE PEOPLE...BUT HOW ? BY DEPRIVING THEM OF THEIR DAILY BREAD AND BUTTER ? AND WHEN THEY DEFY THEM OUT OF NECESSITY TO FEED THEIR FAMILY, THEY PENALIZE THEM BY TAKING ACTIONS LIKE KILLING THIS POOR TAXI DRIVER, OR DESTROYING THIE TAXI, OR BEATING THE TAXI DRIVER.

YEAH THE KING IS BAD BUT THIS IS WORSE

I must agree with BathroomCoffee. They earn by looting people but what do the normal human being meet their ends with? THe act of announcing/conducting a week long Nepal Bandh is utterly deplorable. Shame on whoever has thought of this hideous and cowardice but typical way of threatening people. Ironically it reminds me of those ol` movies where the looters threatens to kill people if they go against their will. Same is happening here, who gives them the F**ing right to threaten the people who wants to vote if they want to. They are not popular as it is and thinking they bear resemblance to their chairman Mao himself, they are wrong and so are their supporters.I aint supporters of nobody, i am supporter of peace and uncorrupted coordination. Bring on peace and harmony, me included millions support and respect you.

ultimate goal is Peace......is there anything in between peace and chaos? or is this it

there is AND btw peace and chaos!,this is it!!:p

arrgh!
kaile samma huncha yasto!:(

:-D ruinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa sis !!! how you been??? LONG time no seee :-D So good to C ya here :-)

cerineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee sis!!:d its soo serene to see u in chaos thread[actually everywhere]!:D great to see ya too!!:D

:-D I know!!! i am making it easier for wateva to find me :-D

I am very upset by hearing ths news .. I dunno what's going on in our country !!