Bandh cripples life in Tarai

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

ITAHARI: Normal life in Tarai was affected today due to bandhs called by the Brihat Madhes Morcha demanding ‘One Madhes, One Pradesh’ and the Tharuhat Struggle Committee seeking three federal states in the Tarai.

Life in Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa, Saptari and Siraha districts have been affected as market places, education institutions and industries remained closed and vehicles remained off the road.

Bandh enforcers vandalised about half a dozen vehicles in Itahari and Jhumka of Sunsari and Dulari of Morang for defying bandh. A minor scuffle was reported between the bandh enforcers and transportation workers in Itahari.

According to Sarlahi based THT correspondent, bandh enforcers of Tharu community obstructed Nawalpur-Malangwa road sections and other sub-roads. No long ot short route vehicles plied in the area today.

Meanwhile, market places, private and government education institutions remained closed in Gaighat – district headquarters Udayapur – and main business hubs of the district, including Katari, Rampur, Murkuchi Saune remained closed.

Similarly, Udayapur cement factory could not send its products to the market due to the bandh. Locals have been facing shortage of essential commodities due to the prolonged bandh.

In the mean time members of the civil society, indigenous people, political party leaders and cadres took out a peace rally in Katari of Udayapur district today.

According to our Biratnagar correspondent, bandh enforcers vandalised a bus belonging to Greenland International College at Hattimudha of Nemuwa VDC for defying bandh. “Bandh enforcers torched the bus when it was on its way to drop the examinees of grade XI back to their homes,” said college principal Rabindra Ghimire. Bus driver Prashanta was hurt in the incident.

Meanwhile, cadres of the Brihat Madheshi Morcha sabotaged Baba Jute Mills, Utsab Slippers Industries, Prabin Paper Industries including others for daring bandh.

As per police sources, bandh enforcers beat up manager of the Baba Jute Mills KN Khakur and took away Rs 50,000 from him.

Morang DSP Uma Prasad Chaturbedi informed that the bandh enforcers vandalised two computers, one printer, and furniture including other goods in the mill.

Likewise, bandh enforcers beat up Binod Yadav, chief, administration chief, Prabin Paper Industries, for defying bandh.

Property worth Rs 5 lakh destroyed in the vandalism, said police.

According to THT Mohattari correspondent, bandh enforcers vandalised more than one dozen vehicles across the district for defying bandh.

Market places in the district remained closed due to the bandh, while transportation services completely halted due to the bandh.

Our Janakpur correspondent said bandh enforcers of the Brigat Madhesi Morcha demonstrated in Janakpur today.

The bandh enforcers have also torched a jeep carrying Annapurna Post newspaper at Pidari Chowk early this morning.

Enforcers resort to vandalism

Parasi: Bandh enforcers have vandalised 13 buses including one ambulance and one truck at Nawalparasi’s Basabasahi along East-West Highway for defying the bandh. Activists of the Tharu Struggle Committee and Morcha held protest rallies in different parts of Nawalparasi. Marketplaces, shops, factories were shut in Parasi Bazaar, Danda, Kawasoti, Rajhar and Pragatinagar. Vehicles stayed off the roads in Parasi due to the strike. Agitators resorted to vandalising an ambulance belonging to Kamal Multi-Cooperative Tulsipur in Dang. During the bandh, four vehicles ferrying medicine were vandalised in Parsa. Bandh supporters took four vehicles carrying medicine under control and vandalised them at Baipasroad along Bandargaha-Parawanipur in Parsa. They have also smashed windowpanes of 20 vehicles, including a tanker ferrying drinking water in the district.