Himalayan News Service

Dhading, February 25

The five-day Nepal-bandh programme called by the All Nepal National Free Student Union-Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R), a sister organisation of the CPN-Maoists, has all but crippled life throughout the country.

The first day of the bandh saw daily life in Dhadhing thrown out of gear. Educational institutes and business centres in district shut down.

No vehicles plied either in town or on the Prithivi and Tribhuwan highways.

Locals including farmers relying on sales of dairy products, fruits and vegetables were badly hit.

A security force personnel is reported to have been badly injured when a group of suspected Maoists laid an ambush while the forces were patrolling Gajuri area. The injured personnel has been brought to Kathmandu.

All government offices in the district too remained deserted due to the Maoist terror.

A report from Rautahat said there was no human casualty but life ground to a halt. Even pharmaceutical shops stayed closed. A few bicycles, rickshaws and tangas were seen plying in the district headquarters, Gaur.

Another report from Rupandehi added the bandh called by ANNFSU-R has crippled life there too.

All government offices, educational institutes, factories, private companies at Butwal were closed. No vehicles plied.

Likewise, Murgiya, Saljhundi, Tamnagar, Semlar, Saufarsatikar, Khaireni, Debdah, Bhalbadi, Manigram, Manglapur, Kotihawa and other business areas of the district were completely affected.

In Bara district, life was completely disturbed. All long-route buses from Kalaiya went off the road.

Local markets in Jitpur, Simara, Parwanipur, Simraungadh, Bariyarpur, Ganjbhawanipur, Nijgadh including the district headquarters Kalaiya were affected.

In Nepalgunj of Banke district, it was the same scenario. No vehicles plied on the Mahendra Highway from east Mechi to west Mahakali.

Public sentiment is said to be mounting against the protracted band called by the pro-Maoist groups.