ITAHARI: Normal life in the eastern region was partly affected today due to the bandh called by Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal (RJN) in protest of federalism. Though there was a minimal presence of RJN cadres, shops at various places remained shut the whole morning through. The bandh had effects in Itahari, Dharan and Inaruwa municipalities. No vehicle plied in Itahari till 10 am, but long-route vehicles resumed services thenceforth. Short-route vehicles remained off the roads throughout the day. Businesses opened in the afternoon in Itahari due to the pressure from numerous Limbuwan and Khambuwan outfits. In the main chowks of Itahari, activists of the outfits made a heavy presence to press people to defy the bandh. Educational institutions remained closed in the area. In Inaruwa, the district headquarters of Sunsari, long route vehicles were seen in operation and marketplaces remained open. The bandh had some effect in Dharan. The bandh had little effect in Biratnagar of Morang. Police detained four bandh enforcers, including Surendra Bhandari, central member of the party, from the bus park area. The arrest of the activists early in the morning rendered the protest less effective than expected. The bandh had effects in Damak, Birtamod and Rajbiraj as well. Meanwhile, Udaypur district remained tense due to a clash between bandh enforcers and opponents. The UCPN-Maoist, Khambuwan Rastriya Mukti Morcha, Kirat Janabadi Workers' Party and Federation of Indigenous People were against the bandh and the activists of these organisations were seen on the streets flouting the call. They torched the flag of RJN in Gaighat main chowk. No vehicle of long and short routes plied in the district today while main trade centres of Katari, Beltar and Murkuchi remained closed. Educational institutions and industries remained closed. Mechi-Koshi regional secretary of the RJN Balkrishna Sharma claimed that the bandh had been successful despite retaliation.