Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Around 80,000 people have already reached the Indo-Nepalese border after a journey of 1400km. They are fleeing to safe places in India to "be able to earn their living", a social worker from the southern city of Birganj, Anil Kumar, told AsiaNews. The national strike called on 6 April by opposition parties, now in its sixth day, has started to make its mark felt, bringing severe discomfort for all the population.

"Poor and daily bread earners, like small street vendors and labourers, are the worst victims of these indefinite strikes and curfews," said Kumar. "Most of these people are either from villages in the high Himalayas or of Indian origin, living in towns in southern Nepal. So they have begun fleeing to India to eschew hunger."

Kumar said the Nepalese were fleeing to India on bicycles, in tractors and small vehicles through rural and forest routes. "There was absolutely no traffic movement on the highways and main roads, which are under the control of the soldiers and Maoist guerrillas. But the rural and forest routes are free from any obstruction. Most people are traveling by cycle, but there are even some private jeeps and microbuses. People have no option but to go to India."

Sameer Vajpayee, a journalist based in Triveni town on the border with India, added that most of these fleeing had relatives who lived and worked in India.  "So they could easily manage to get some work or food to survive until the anarchy and mayhem in Nepal stop," he said. "Besides, Nepalese people don't need passports or permits to live and work in India."

Vajpayee, however, fears that if the strike is not called off soon, "not only Nepal's, but also India's economy will be crippled. There may be a mass exodus of people from Nepal seeking refuge in India, and this would create problems for Delhi, that would have to feed thousands of refugees on its territory. This would be a perilous situation."

Kumar, the social worker, said the security forces' violent handling of the strike and protests mounted by political parties had increased people's panic.

"Unfortunately, soldiers are breaking into the huts of poor labourers, beating them on the accusation that they are sheltering Maoists. On the other hand, Maoists are harassing the same people by extorting money, although the average income is very low, around 50 rupees (nearly one dollar) per month per person. So under such circumstances, it's easy to see how these people have no option but to go to India."

Meanwhile, the government of Nepal is pressing ahead with its repression policy. During the past week, over 10,000 protesters were rounded up. Although many of them have been released, over 3,000 people are still in detention on the charge of being Maoists. Three people were killed in the clashes and at least 350 people were wounded.

Vajpayee said the Maoists' openly declared intention to join the strike was "dangerous". He added: "The Maoists could take over the reins of the strike, thus dealing a blow to pro-democracy forces. Ironically, this would benefit the pro-monarchy forces. They would get carte blanche from the international community, led by USA and India, in their struggle against the Maoists. The future of country certainly doesn't look happy."