Petroleum transporters on strike, supply to Kathmandu obstructed

Kathmandu, June 4

Nepali transporters have stopped ferrying petroleum products from across the border in protest of an alleged assault on drivers.

According to the transporters, Indian police stationed near the border assaulter a driver on Saturday. They have demanded that the government provide security to the transporters. Following the strike, supply to Kathmandu has been cut off and long queues have been seen at the petrol stations in Kathmandu.

“We have seen that there is a problem. We will soon ease the supply,” Nepal Oil Corporation’s spokesperson Birendra Goit said. Nepal Petroleum Transporters’ Association deputy chief Surendra Srivastav said that seven Nepali drivers were assaulted by Indian policemen near Birgunj on Saturday night. The drivers have been severely injured, he added.

Due to the strike, import of petroleum from India via Birgunj has been halted. Shrivastav said that more incidents of assault have been reported near the border in the past. Around 150 Nepali tankers bring in petroleum from India every day.