Birgunj, December 18 United Democratic Madhesi Front has stepped up agitation in the districts of Bara and Parsa from Friday to press the government and three major parties to meet their demands. On Friday, UDMF leaders and cadres took to the streets from early morning and staged demonstrations by burning tyres. They obstructed vehicular movement at Murli, Ghantaghar, Maisthan, Ghadiarwa, among other places. They also forced closure of markets. UDMF cadres vadalised two tractors and a van for defying their shutdown in Kalaiya. The agitators also set a motorbike on fire saying it was used to smuggle petrol from India in Bara’s Simraungadh. The motorbike was completely destroyed in the arson. UDMF’s shutdown threw normal life out of gear in many places in the Tarai. UDMF has been enforcing an indefinite general strike in the Tarai to protest against the new constitution. Agitators have also been staging a sit-in at Birgunj Raxaul customs point crippling import and export for the past 87 days.