ITAHARI: Normal life was badly affected across the Tarai on the first day of the indefinite Madhes bandh called by Matrika Yadav-led CPN-Maoist demanding the release of its cadres detained in Parsa on November 4.

The agitators vandalised four commuter buses in Inaruwa, the district headquarters of Sunsari, for defying the bandh. Three demonstrators were held after the incident. Market places, industries and education institutions remained shut in Inaruwa, Duhabi, Khanar, Sonapur, Jhumka and Bhantabari areas of the district. However, few vehicles plied north and east of Itahari.

In Dhanusa, educational institutions, industries and market places were shut while no vehicle plied the whole day through. Bandh enforcers also obstructed the country’s only - Janakpur-Jayanagar - railway. The agitators demonstrated in parts of the district by burning tyres.

The bandh, however, had little effect in Biratnagar. Police intervened in the protesters’ attempt to obstruct transportation by burning tyres at Janaandolan Chowk in the morning. Traffic resumed after the deployment of police personnel in large numbers in the town. But people were affected in rural parts of the district.

The bandh caused much suffering in Saptari district as well. No vehicles plied on the roads today while education institutions, industries and market places remained shut. The agitators demonstrated in parts of the district by burning tyres and caused vandalism at Milan Dairy located at Rajbiraj-7 for defying their order. In Udayapur, schools, colleges, industries, transportation and market places remained shut.

The bandh had affected Parsa district too. The CPN-M cadres vandalised six vehicles at Gandak Chowk in Birgunj. Ironically, police were escorting the vehicles to Kathmandu.

In Kapilvastu, education institutions, industries and transportation remained shut. Police said six activists were held.

Nawalparasi, Rauthat, Bara and Sarlahi districts were also hit by the bandh. Vehicles remained off the roads while market places, educational institutions and industries remained shut.