Far-west bandh cripples normal life

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

DHANGADI: Normal life was paralysed in the districts of the Far-west region for a third consecutive day today due to the strike enforced by the Far-west Ekata Samaj and the Samyukta Lotantrik Paribesh.

In Kailali and Kanchhanpur districts, locals have not been able to purchase essentials goods as markets were shut for third day. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded in Mahendranagar and Dhangadi bus parks as the vehicles remained off the road.

However, bandh enforcers have informed that they would allow plying the vehicle in Dhangadi from 7 pm to 6 am tomorrow. Bandh enforcers demonstrated in Dhangadi, Attariya, Mahendranagar, Doti including other places in the morning and afternoon.

The demonstrators organised a corner meet at the Traffic Chauraha, Dhangad. Nepali Congress Doti chairman Bir Bahadur Balayar including others addressed the corner meet.

Basundhara Hamal of Bauniya, Ghailabouniya, was injured when demonstrators vandalised a vehicle on Saturday. He has been referred to a hospital in Nepalgunj from Padma Hospital. Similarly, demonstrators vandalised a fruits shop at Attariya. Khada Bista of Jogbuda Dadeldhura sustained injury on his eye.

Similarly, demonstrators vandalised a truck in Attariya today. Truck driver Krishna Malla of Rayal Bajhang sustained minor injury during the attack, while Ramesh BK of Daiji, Kanchhanpur, who was travelling in the truck has been critically injured. Both are undergoing treatment at Attariya-based Nursing Home.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Doti, Doti Chamber of Commerce and Industries, various political parties demanded indefinite Doti bandh demanding undivided Far-west region. Regional government offices remained closed in Dipayal. District secretary of the UCPN-Maoist Trilochan Bhatta also expressed solidarity with the bandh.

In Kanchhanpur, bandh enforcers burnt tyres in the day today. Police arrested Jaya Bahadur Khadka, one of the demonstrators, on charges of pelting stones at the government offices.

Later Kanchhanpur bandh was withdrawn after an agreement was reached with the leaders of Tharu community that they would have detailed discussion on Monday. The demonstrators have also decided to hold round table talks involving the representatives of various ethnic groups.

A report from Accham said that the folks in the area also demonstrated to protest the UCPN-Maoist proposal of carving the country into federal states dividing the Far-west region. Former state minister Govinda Shah and NC district chairman Pushpa Bahadur Shah, district chairman of CPN-UML addressed the meet after a rally. They warned the political leaders not to divide the Far-West.

Similary, Sudurpachhimanchal Jagara Manch urged all political parties to stand united for one Far-west region leaving aside the vested interest of their parties.