Dhankuta, January 4

Agitating Dhankuta denizens, who are on a war path demanding that Dhankuta be declared provincial capital of Province 1, padlocked the Eastern Regional Administration Office today in order to exert pressure on the government for the same.

However, the officials at the office unlocked the office after 20 minutes and resumed everyday business.

Parliamentary member Rajendra Kumar Rai-led agitating team had padlocked the office taking the deputy regional administrator Sewanta Dahal and other staffers out, as per regional administrator Rajeshwor Man Singh.

It has been 21 days since the district dwellers launched a general strike along with demonstrations demanding that Dhankuta be declared the provincial capital.

Vehicular movement along the Dharan-Dhankuta road section came to a grinding halt from yesterday, which has adversely affected life in the hilly districts including Terhathum, Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur.

Hundreds of vehicles and passengers have been stranded along the road after the bandh enforcers burnt tyres. They have not allowed movement of very sensitive vehicles such as ambulances, press, educational institutions, dairies and vehicles carrying vegetables, among others.

The agitating district folks have argued that as Dhankuta was the regional headquarters of the east, it had all necessary infrastructure besides land and was suitable for being the provincial capital as well.