Rautahat, July 17 -- Victims of predatory lending suspended their nine-day protest on Friday after signing a nine-point agreement with the government that commits to criminalising loan sharking, drafting a special law within three months and establishing dedicated tribunals to handle such cases.

The agreement followed negotiations in Kathmandu between a government team led by Pushkar Sapkota, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and the victims' negotiating panel. Sapkota signed the agreement on behalf of the government, while Awadhesh Kushwaha signed on behalf of the protesters.

Under the agreement, the government will table a Cabinet proposal to declare loan sharking an economic crime and draft a Pre...