Police have arrested Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) General Secretary Saroj Sitaula from Reporter’s Club in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Friday.

A team of Nepal Police personnel deployed from Singha Durbar arrested Sitaula while he arrived for a press meet at the club.

Sitaula, while being detained, said that the state has gravely oppressed the transport entrepreneurs. “We have the right to protest against the government’s decision,” said Sitaula, “The government is oppressing us by not letting us protest.”

The police have begun detaining officials affiliated with various transport committees following the directive issued by Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa directing action against transport entrepreneurs, companies and committees enforcing transport strike.

The transport entrepreneurs have called for a nationwide strike in order to enforce syndicate and cartel system in the transport sector.