Motorcycle passengers banned in Nepal

Nepal’s government, which has been battling a communist insurgency, has banned passengers from riding on the back of motorcycles to stop drive-by shootings by rebels, it was announced today.

The Home Ministry said motorcycles have been misused by terrorists to launch attacks and that “terrorists riding on the back of motorcycles have used weapons to attack”.

Maoist rebels, who mostly operate in rural areas, are known to use motorcycles to attack targets in cities and towns.

Motorcycles are a popular means of transport in urban parts of Nepal because they are cheap and affordable to most families. They are commonly used as family vehicles with parents and children riding on the same motorcycle.

Rebel violence has escalated since King Gyanendra seized control of the government in February.

He said the measure was necessary to quell the nine-year-old communist insurgency, which has left more than 11,500 dead.

The rebels, who claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, began their violent campaign for a communist state in 1996.