Kathmandu, Apr 6: A shutdown called by 18 different Left wing parties including CPN (Maoist) led by Matrika Yadav crippled normal life in Nepal on Monday.

The strike was called to prevent mass assemblies called by the Unified CPN (Maoist) in various cities.

The shutdown has affected transportation as both long and short-route vehicles remained off the road.

The activists vandalised and torched some public vehicles in the capital.

Mass gatherings are scheduled to be organised in several cities including Kathmandu, Biratnagar and Bhairahawa by Maoists, Nepalnews. com reports. (ANI)