Rautahat, September 8:

Health services in Rautahat, except the emergency service at the district hospital, remained closed today due to the indefinite strike called by health workers.

Health workers called the strike to protest the killing of Suresh Yadav, district chairman of Nepal Health Workers’ Association (NHWA), yesterday.

An unidentified gang had killed Yadav on the border of Jayanagar and Sankhuwa village development committees along the Birendra Highway.

A joint meeting of Nepal CMA Association, NHWA and Madhesi Health Workers’ Forum (MHWF) decided to close the health services from today. They have put forward a four-point demand to the local administration, MHWF treasurer Sanjay Kumar Jha said.

The demands include declaring Yadav as a martyr, taking stern action against the culprits, providing proper compensation to the family of the victim and guarantee security of civil servants.

The agitating health workers say the indefinite strike would continue until their demands were addressed.

“The government has been saying that it would take action against the civil servants who do not carry out their works. But why the government keeps mum when it comes to providing security to the the civil servants?”

Jha asked.

The gang had shot dead Yadav, the in-charge of Inarwa sub-health post, at 8:30 pm when he was heading to Kheshariya village development committee from Garuda yesterday. Yadav died on the spot, the police said.

Hundreds of health workers and civil servants took part in Yadav’s funeral procession today.

A search for the culprits is underway, said DSP at the Rautahat district police Ramesh Thapa.