Syangja, January 24:

Vehicular movement on the Siddhartha Highway was disrupted today due to obstructions placed by the armed Maoists at different places between Helu Bazaar and Galyang of Syangja district.

The Maoists obstructed the road by placing tree trunks and rocks at different places on the highway, including Shankhapur, Helu, Lamachaur, Khatri Khola, Karadi and Bayantari. The Maoists blocked the Shankhapur-Helu road section by parking a truck in the middle of the road. They have planted explosives in the tyres of the truck. Security forces said a bomb disposal squad has been called to defuse the explosives.

The forces have also asked the locals to evacuate their homes to be safe from possible accident, locals said. The Maoists have also planted banner bombs calling on the people to boycott the upcoming civic polls at different places, district-based security sources said. The locals of Helu Bazaar remained terrified since early this morning. The traffic on the highway could not be resumed till late in the afternoon.

Hundreds of passengers travelling to Butwal, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, and Mahendranagar from Pokhara were stranded due to the blockade.

Many passengers arrived at the headquarters on foot. One Brajesh Kumar Gupta travelling to Pokhara from Nepalgunj said he never had to face such a trouble in his life.

Security forces have been mobilised in Helu Bazaar, 14 km south of Putali Bazaar.