February 13: Agitating transport workers on Monday vandalized the Lotse Mall at New Buspark area in Balaju, Kathmandu.    
The transport workers on Monday evening took to the streets, leading to clashes, vandalism and arson in the area protesting against the traffic police’s decision to hike the fine for traffic rules violation. They also vandalized the Lotse Mall run near the New Buspark.    
The workers have demanded to scrap the exorbitant penalty amount for traffic rules violations, release of the suspended license, provision of the physical infrastructure and parking areas among others.    
Likewise, the protestors have stolen the mobile phones from the shops run in the business complex.    
Human Resource Development Chief of Lotse multipurpose company, Pankaj Malla, said that property worth million has been destroyed due to the vandalism and lootings.    
Currently, security situation has been beefed up in the area by deploying a large number of police personnel.    
Tensions rose high in the areas after the workers under the banners of different political parties-aligned association staged the protests. The protestors pelted stones at the police and also set two police vans on fire this evening. Likewise, the protestors torched a temporary police beat located at Balaju Chowk, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Himalaya Kumar Shrestha. It is said that 10 police personnel and some protestors sustained injuries in the protest.    
Meanwhile, the government has appealed to the agitating side to sit for a talk on Tuesday.    
Director General of the Department of Transport Tulsi Gautam said that the transport workers have been invited for talks at 8:00 am on Tuesday. -- RSS