DHANGADHI: Bowing to the mounting pressure exerted by the local entrepreneurs, the Unified CPN-Maoist has announced withdrawal of Kailali bandh today. The general strike in the district had been continuing for the last eight days.

Earlier, in the morning, the local businessmen had demonstrated in Dhangadhi Bazaar asking the Maoists to call off their bandh. As an act of pressure to the Maoists, the businessmen however, enforced closure of entry points of Dhangadhi Bazaar, hospitals and drug stores, that the Maoists had allowed opening.

Issuing a press release, UCPN-M district secretary Hari Chaudhari ‘Utsab’ said that the bandh was withdrawn from the afternoon. However, the bandh would continue in government offices and for government vehicles, the statement added. He maintained that the bandh was withdrawn on public request. He also alleged that the government was not serious about the Dudejhari incident and their demands.

A rally of about 1,500 businessmen, workers, and transport entrepreneurs had blocked Trinagar Customs Office. The demonstrators chanted slogans after locking the customs office. Regular business of the customs was halted for two hours. The agitating entrepreneurs had also locked the office of Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industries for not taking any initiative to end the bandh. Some of the staffers at the office were also locked inside for an hour.