Janakpur bandh put off

JANAKPURDHAM: Agitating political parties demanding resignation of Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal have put off their declared programmes of bandh keeping in mind the upcoming SLC examination, Mithila Mahotsav and Ram Nawami celebrations in Janakpur.

A joint meeting of the various political parties yesterday took the decision to call off the bandh programme and launch peaceful protest instead for 15 days. According to Dr Ramchandra Shah, vice-chairman, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Dhanusa, the leaders of 15 political parties decided to cancel the bandh programme keeping in mind the inconvenience that strike might cause to students and general public.

Representatives of political parties, however, have warned of serious agitation if their demands were not addressed within 15 days of peaceful protest. The political parties have been protesting an alleged rape on an Indian woman by sub-inspector of police Baburam Jha.