Siraha, July 9:

Life was affected in different parts of Siraha district on the first day of a two-day Tarai bandh called by the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Visfot Singh).

Vehicular movement came to a halt due to the bandh. Educational institutions, factories and business were closed.

Supporters of the bandh also torched a cargo truck heading from Birgunj to the east at Kasaha Chowk along the Mahendra Highway this morning. Morcha’s Dhanusha Siraha in-charge Amar said the truck was torched for defying the bandh. Cadres of the JTMM (Visfot Singh) torched a truck at Lahan-3 Raghunathpur Chowk along the Mahendra Highway in Siraha last night for allegedly defying the bandh. The truck was carrying iron rods from Birgunj to Birtamod. Three mobile phone sets were also looted from the passengers of the truck.

Issuing a press release yesterday, central president of the outfit, Bisfot Singh, had called the two-day bandh starting today to protest the murder of central member of the outfit, Rakesh Karna alias Bha Mandal on Saturday.