ITAHARI: More than 450 petrol pumps and depots in the Eastern Region were shut indefinitely from today due to the protest of workers affiliated with the UCPN-Maoist.

Putting forth their 17-point charter of demands, about 1,000 workers forced the closure of the facilities and carried out demonstration. Transaction of all the gas stations was halted on the first day of the indefinite strike called by Eastern Regional Committee of All Nepal Petroleum Workers' Union today.

The workers have been demanding timely payment of their salary, permanent status for those to have served for more than 240 days, ration cards to the workers and weekly leave among others. In Itahari, a huge number of workers chanted slogans against the depot owners and said the agitation would continue until the demands were met.

Govinda Prasad Rijal, chairman of the agitating committee, said that the proprietors’ apathy towards their demands had necessitated the third round of protest. "They did not respond to our earlier protests, forcing us to take to the streets," Rijal maintained.