A normal life has been affected due to the general strike called by the Prachanda-Nepal faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) in the capital on Thursday.

The government has tightened the security situation and urged the people in general to defy the bandh.

Meanwhile, police have arrested five cadres of the Prachanda-Nepal group from Samakhusi area on the charge forcing bandh on early morning today.

The arrested are Milan Tamang, Samir Tamang, Ramesh Tamang, Raj Kumar Tamang and Rajendra Pandey, infomed Ram Prasad Sapkota, the coordinator of National Youth Association. Similarly, other 35 cadres of the disgruntled faction have beeen arrested from different areas while they were engaged in halting transport system and enforcing bandh.

The Kathmandu Valley-bound night buses have entered the Valley via Nagdhunga. The vehicles ferrying dairy and agricultural products are operating.

The disgruntled breakaway faction, which has been agitating against the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR), has called a general strike today.

The Prachanda-Nepal has called the general strike on the eve of the huge mass meeting to be organized by the Oli-led faction on Friday.

Chairman of NCP Bagmati Province Narayan Dahal said the general strike has been announced to protest the appointments of the office-bearers in the Constitutional Bodies, and the “unconstitutional” move of Prime Minister KP Oli.

The Prachanda-Nepal faction, opposition parties including Nepali Congress, has been staging demonstrations after President Bidya Bhandari dissolved the HoR on the recommendation of the cabinet on December 20.