KAVRE: Araniko Highway, the only highway that links the country to China, has been obstructed for last six days. Locals of Panchkhal VDC have been obstructing the road protesting the death of two youths in a road mishap. Badri Subedi (33) and Murari Adhikari (32) of Panchkhal VDC-4 had died on the spot when a bus hit their motorbike before six days. Manaram Sapkota, who was also on the bike, has sustained serious injury in his head and is undergong treatment at Norvic Hospital, Kathmandu. According to eyewitnesses, the bus had dragged the trio for more than 30 feet. Following the incident, the locals had brought the bus at Tamaghat and burnt it. The locals have been obstructing the highway by felling trees at Panchkhal bazaar and near the local post. Organising a press meet on the highway yesterday, the struggle committee had demanded the government to punish the driver and provide compensation to the victims’ family. “We will close the highway indefinitely if our demands are not addressed on time,” they said. However, the locals have been allowing ambulance and vehicles of tourists and mediapersons to ply. The struggle committee has demanded Rs 1 million compensation to each family of the deceased, compensation for the damaged motorcycle, free treatment for the injured, life imprisonment to driver Sunil Basnet and cancellation of his driving licence. A marathon talk held between the representatives of Araniko Highway Transport Entrepreneurs Committee and the local administrations of Kavre and Sindhupalchowk to resolve the issue had ended inconclusively on Friday. Shuva Adhikary, president of the struggle committee, said the talk couldn’t reach to a decision, as the entrepreneurs’ committee were willing to discuss only on their issues. “We will sit for talks only if they are ready to give priority to our demands,” he added. The struggle committee has threatened to launch stern programmes if their demands are not addressed by Tuesday. The committee provided Rs 100,000 for the treatment of victim on Wednesday. Meanwhile, locals today obstructed traffic at Pakucha in Dhulikhel-1, saying that the vehicles were fleecing them. They also took over a dozen vehicles for charging exorbitant fares.