Ilam/Jhapa, November 5:

Demanding security, transport workers brought vehicular movement on the Mechi highway to a halt today. Passengers headed for Jhapa, Panchthar and other districts were affected due to the halt in traffic.

According to passengers, insecurity prevails on the highway. Passengers are looted and transport workers beaten frequently, they complained.

The agitating workers vandalised a bus with registration number Me 1 Kha 4283 on the border of Ilam and Jhapa districts, claiming that the bus, defying the strike, was heading to Kathmandu from Ilam.

An unidentified gang had looted vehicles and beat up transport workers and some passengers at Kiteni along the Ilam-Jhapa border on Saturday night.

The strike affected passengers. Talks held today between transport workers and local administration to resolve the matter and open the traffic ended inconclusively.

Following an increase in the incidents of looting, YCL cadres have been patrolling the Kolbung section of the Mechi Highway in Ilam.