ITAHARI: The main highways and roads in the city interiors in the eastern districts wore a deserted look today as vehicles stayed off the road due to the Maoist-called general strike.

But in today's strike, unlike the previous bandhs, the otherwise crammed roads with protesters during such occasions recorded a very low footfall of the Maoists cadres and other bandh supporters.

Even the UCPN-Maoist activists were a very few in umber who had descended on the roads enforcing the closure. Such low turn out of bandh imposers was recorded in the Eastern Region's major towns of Itahari, Biratnagar, Damak, Birtamode, Dharan, Rajbiraj, among others.

Human rights activists attribute such a situation to the people's growing detestation towards such strike which hardly has any connection with their daily life but add to their inconvenience. "Since Nepali people have been tired of the bandhs, the local residents in this region might have chosen to remain passive during such occasions,” opines a human rights activist.

Secretary of Human Rights Protection Centre Rajendra Pokharel seconds the claim.

"The Nepali people want no more bandh on any pretext," he said, adding, "They are particularly irritated with the Maoists since they think that the Maoists were unnecessarily protracting the issue of civilian supremacy and imposing the bandh which is a kind of torture to the commoners." He also urged the UCPN-Maoist to choose peaceful ways to press for their demands understanding Nepali people's increasing distraction towards bandh.

Somraj Thapa, regional coordinator of INSEC, said people's turn out was very low in the Maoists' general strike as the Nepalis were now aware that they should not be harassed anymore by any parties for the latter's petty interests. "The people's participation in the bandh is gradually reducing to trickle. Nepali people won't support any if they fail as per the sentiments of the people," Thapa said. "The people are now disappointed as the situation remains same for them no matter which party comes to power."

Thapa also claimed that the people didn't support the Maoists since due to its differences in sayings and doings. "The party, while in government, used to urge for ending bandh culture. But, it has been doing the same as soon as it came out of the government.” "The people are frustrated; they need no more bandh, strike and violence. They are desperate for peace. Now, it's high time all parties, including the Maoists, understood this reality," he added.

Meanwhile, a Maoist leader, who is also a member of the recently declared Kochila state committee in the east, said he was surprised due to the low turn out of party activists and others in today's bandh. "It seems the people want us to revise out protest strategy," he told preferring not to be named. "The condition then and now is totally different. The party should understand the change."