Dharan, August 9:

Transport workers have called a strike in the eastern region from tomorrow to protest the murder of bus driver Krishna Khawas at the hands of dacoits in Banke stream of Sarlahi on Thursday. They said their strike will continue till their five-point charter of demands was met.

The call came following a meeting between transport workers and transporters in Dharan today. The strike will be enforced in Makawanpur district of the Narayani zone, and Koshi, Sagarmatha and Janakpur zones.

The transport workers said they would not make compromise with the local administration on their demands. Their demands include payment of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family the bus driver, free education for the bereaved children, guaranteed security for transport

entrepreneurs security and declaration of national highways as a zone of peace.

The meeting also formed committees to spearhead the agitation. Nepal Transport Entrepreneur’s Federation and Truck Entrepreneur’s Organisation will also take part in the strike. Koshi Zonal secretary of Nepal Transport Free Workers’ Organisation (NTFWO) Bhim Rai ‘Jwala’ said transport workers were calling the strike to pressure the government to meet their demands.

President of NTFWO Dharan unit Govinda Giri said talks would be held only with Home Ministry officials this time. “We won’t sit for talks with others,” he said.

Dacoits had killed bus driver Krishna Khabas in Sarlahi’s Banke stream while he tried to stop them from robbing bus passengers on Thursday.

Transport workers enforced a strike in Sunsari today to protest the murder of bus driver Krishna Khawas. They vandalised three vehicles in Itahari for defying the strike.