Dharan, January 31:

Normal life in different districts of the eastern region was affected on the first day of the three-day bandh called by six different ethnic organisations today.

The Limbuwan Autonomous Forum, Federal Democratic National Forum, Limbuwan State Council, Khumbuwan State Council, Tamangsaling State Council and Dhimal State Council have jointly announced the three-day bandh in Limbuwan, Tamangsaling and Khumbuwan areas. They are demanding inclusion of a provision on federalism in the interim statute, ethnic autonomy, republican set-up and the right to self-determination.

The impact of the bandh was felt in Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam and Jhapa districts of the Mechi zone; Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Sunsari districts of the Koshi zone and Solukhumbu, Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Udaypur districts of the Sagarmatha zone. Factories and academic institutions were shut while transportation service remained halted.

Dharan and Itahari bazaars, too, remained shut.

Chairman of the Bandh Organisers’ Committee, Kumar Lingden, said Prime Minister GP Koirala’s speech today was only a “conspiracy” to spike the ongoing agitation of the ethnic communities. “His address is an attempt to sideline the main issue,” Lingden said.

A report from Dhankuta said the first day of the three-day bandh affected life there. Shops, factories and most academic

institutions remained shut. A

few medical stores were open. Long and short route vehicles did not ply. Only a few ambulances and vehicles belonging to the security forces were seen on the road. Hile, Bhedetar, Pakhribas and Sidhuwa Bazaars remained shut. District-based indigenous janajati organisations staged demonstrations.

A report from Gaighat said the first day of the bandh had a partial impact in Udaypur. Shops remained open in main bazaars, particularly in district headquarters Gaighat, Katari, Rampur, Beltar and Murkuchi bazaars. Vehicles remained off the roads and academic institutions were shut. No untoward incident occurred during the bandh, the local administration said.