DHANGADI, August 7 The third consecutive day of a general strike called by the supporters of Undivided Far-West added to the woes of local people on Friday. Loyalists of the far-west have been demanding not to split the region in the federal set-up. Bandh organisers staged protest at Lamki, Tikapur, Bhajani, Attariya, and Dhangadi of Kailali. Transport, schools, factories, shops, market places, government and non-government offices remained shut due to the strike. Flights to and from Geta Airport in Dhangadi were also cancelled. The strike has also affected general life in Dadeldhura, Doti and Achham districts. Bandh organisers enforced the shutdown of vehicular movement even on the streets of the hilly areas. The supporters of intact far-west had started the strike on Wednesday to protest the major parties’ preparation to split Kailali from the region. Birendra Shah, coordinator of Intact Far-West Struggle Committee Doti, said they had launched their agitation with support from political parties of the district. Nine political parties have expressed their solidarity with the agitation. Nripa Bad, leader of the Nepali Congress in Kailali, said UCPN-Maoist’s support to the bandh had boosted their agitation. Earlier, UCPN-M was against the demand for intact far-west. Majority of the UCPN-Maoist leaders have backed the agitation after UCPN-M politburo leader Lekhraj Bhatta voiced his support for the same.