Itahari, March 9:

Normal life in the Tarai districts were affected today on the fourth day of the general strike called by the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF).

In Sunsari district, MJF activists torched a motorcycle belonging to a local journalist at Duhabi of Itahari this morning and also thrashed five media persons.

The demonstrators took under control four media persons associated with Janabidroh daily who were heading towards Itahari from Biratnagar carrying newspapers on motorcycles.

The four staffers of the daily — Nawaraj Pokharel, Chiranjeevi Rijal, Bhim Nepal and Bimal Lamichhane — were released two hours later.

All the four injured media persons were treated in a clinic at Biratnagar, another staffer of the daily Binod Ghimire said.

The Sunsari-based correspondent of Rajdhani daily Santosh Yadav was also thrashed by demonstrators in Duhabi today. Yadav sustained injuries in his eye.

Meanwhile, Morang and Sunsari chapters of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists and Press Chautari Sunsari issued separate statements protesting the attacks on media persons. Press vehicles did not leave for Itahari from Biratnagar after the incidents.

A report from Bara said MJF activists in Kalaiya vandalised a tractor that was ferrying potatoes to Parsauni from Hariharpur of Bara. MJF activists also staged a rally in Kalaiya.

In Rautahat, normal life in the rural region was crippled due to the MJF bandh. All shops and academic institutions remained shut while both long and short route vehicles plying from Gaur stayed off the road. Shops in Chandranigahapur were open while vehicles plied on Mahendra Highway.

In Nawalparasi, normal life remained crippled. MJF activists staged demonstrations in Parasi Bazaar throughout the day. Bazaars, factories and academic institutions were shut while vehicular movement remained halted. Vehicles plied on Mahendra Highway, with police escorting them.

Biratnagar remained closed though some shops had opened yesterday. Although customs points opened, drivers of cargo trucks and lorries refused to ply the vehicles, SP Gopal Bhandari said.

He added that security forces were deployed at the customs office for security and escort for vehicles was also arranged. MJF activists torched a motorcycle on Malaya Road of Biratnagar. Police arrested seven persons for vandalism.

In Morang, MJF activists torched documents of the Chopraha Chhoti Customs office at Rangeli.

In Birgunj, MJF activists disrupted the Birgunj customs point by parking trucks across the road. Even ambulances carrying patients could not ply due to the roadblock.

Armed Police Force arrested 27 MJF activists who were staging a relay hunger strike at Miteri Bridge in the Nepal-India border area last night. They were released two hours later.

Some 35 MJF activists, led by central member Jeetendra Sonal, began a relay hunger strike today.

In Lahan, MJF activists today torched copy of draft of interim statute amendment bill registered in the parliament.

The MJF activists led by central member Krishna Kumar Yadav torched the amendment bill saying there was no significance of amendment in the statute without consulting with MJF even though it was a positive step towards solving problems of Tarai.

Normal life remained affected in Siraha due to MJF strike. Works of export and import remained halted in Siraha custom point, as MJF activists continued the padlocking in the custom office.