NEPALGUNJ: Normal life in all the districts of Bheri and Karnali zones was thrown out of gear

due to a bandh imposed by Rastriya Janamorcha

Nepal today. The party has enforced he strike protesting the federalism.

Due to the bandh, vehicles stayed off the roads throughout the day. Education institutions, industries and the marketplaces were also shut. Even the ATM booths were closed. The protesters also demonstrated in various places, including Nepalgunj, Gulariya and Birendranagar.

The protesters also clashed with the employees of Nepal SBI Bank. The clash erupted after the protesters were assaulted by the security guards, RJN accused.

Following the assault, a group of protesters led

by Momina Khatun, chairman RJN-Banke attacked

the security guards, the

bank stated.

Khatun, however, maintained that the bank had invited the clash as it opened the office during the bandh. Tej Bahadur Thapa, staffer at the bank, said that the police had taken Dan Bahadur Gurung and Bhim Bahadur Gurung, security guards of the bank under control.

Deputy chairman RJN-Banke, Man Bahadur Bhandari said that the bandh

was organised to create

public support on issues

of nationalism. The party had enforced similar bandh in Gandaki and Dhaulagiri zones on December 27, crippling normal life in Mustang, Parbat, Kaski, Syangja, Tanahun, Gorkha, among other districts.

RJN central deputy chairman, Shankar Baral said that the bandh was the last part of their third phase of protest.