Ilam, February 20:

Students today disrupted traffic on Ilam-Biblyate section of Mechi Highway, demanding a cut on transport fares.

The students disrupted the traffic on the highway which was resumed today following five days of closure due to the strike of the locals of Aitabare.

The Aitabare residents had obstructed traffic on Godak-Fikkal-Kolbung section of the highway,

to protest the government decision to shift back a few government offices to Fikkal.

The offices were shifted to Aitabare from Fikkal during the insurgency. The offices which have been shifted back to Fikkal are branches of Agricultural Development Bank Limited and Rastriya Banijya Bank and the tariff collection counter of Nepal Electricity Authority.

The students today blocked traffic on Ilam-Biblyate section of the highway, accusing the transporters of not providing the agreed discount to students. They were also demanding a cut in fares in view with the fall in petroleum prices.

The District Administration Office called on the transport entrepreneurs and students for talks to resolve the problem.

But the students rejected the call and demanded action against the transport workers who had thrashed over 10 students yesterday. The police said three of the accused in yesterday’s case had already been arrested.

The students vandalised a few vehicles, including the one carrying a patient from Ranke of Panchthar district. Driver Kumar Tamang got injured in the incident.

Issuing a statement, the students warned that they would intensify the protests if the administration failed to take action against the culprits by tomorrow.