Siraha, September 13 :

Life in the Terai region was affected today, the first day of the two-day Terai bandh called by the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM).

Rural markets in Lahan, Golbazaar and Mirchaiya as well as in the district headquarters Siraha remained closed. Though some long-route vehicles plied on Mahendra Highway, most short route vehicles stayed off the roads. Academic institutions also remained closed.

No untoward incidents occurred during the bandh, the District Police Office, Siraha, said. The coordinator of the central ad hoc committee of the JTMM, Jay Krishna Goit, said in a statement that the bandh was called to protest acts of violence, abductions, murders and extortion by the Maoists. He accused the Maoists of trying to intimidate the Madhesi people who are the “native residents of Terai.”

A report from Janakpur said normal life came to a halt due to the bandh. Markets were closed. So were academic institutions and factories. The Janakpur-Jaynagar rail service, however, operated as usual. Government offices and the Janakpur cigarette factory were open.

However, long and short-route vehicles remained off the roads. Some vehicles plied on the East-West Highway with police escort.

A report from Rajbiraj said Saptari bazaar was closed and normal life there affected. Academic institutions remained closed while public and private vehicles remained off the roads. Kalyanpur, Bhardaha, Kanchanpur, Fattehpur, Barsain and Chinnamasta bazaars also remained closed.

In Gaighat, normal life was affected in Udaypur due to the JTMM bandh. Both long and short-route vehicles stayed off the roads.

In Mahottari, the bandh affected normal life and vehicular movement came to a halt. Passengers were stranded after vehicles remained off the Jaleshwor-Matihani, Jaleshwor-Janakpur and Jaleshwor-Samsi-Bardibas road sections. Passengers had to either walk or take rickshaws to Janakpur.