BIRGUNJ: Madhes-centric parties on Saturday enforced a general shutdown in Birgunj of Parsa district demanding release of their arrested cadres.

The parties resorted to the bandh after police did not release three including the National Madhesi Socialist Party central member Rajesh Man Singh by this afternoon.

The trio were arrested while they tried to obstruct UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal from entering Birgunj for a public function on Friday.

The party cadres staged demonstration at major junctions of the city today to enforce the bandh by obstructing roads with burning tyres.

The parties had tried to foil a programme which was inaugurated by Dahal yesterday, claiming that the Maoist leader led the anti-Madhes Constitution writing process.

Police had subsequently arrested 17 to control the situation. They, however, released other 14 arrestees.

DSP Habindra Bogati said police were interrogating with the three suspects.