Kathmandu, February 27:

Normal life in the Tarai districts was hit today due to the transport strike and customs office bandh called by the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF).

Birgunj, Biratnagar and Nepalgunj customs offices along the Indo-Nepal border could not conduct business today as well.

The MJF has called the strike in the Tarai region from February 26 till March 5. The customs office in Morang was padlocked by protesters yesterday. Educational institutions and shops remained shut in Lahan and Mirchaiya.

However, bazaars in Siraha remained open today.

In Saptari, both private and public vehicles stayed off the roads and protesters burnt tyres on major roads. However, schools and shops were open despite a district bandh call by the Dalit Janajati Party today.

In Bara, protesters vandalised a tempo that was plying during the bandh along the Kalaiya-Birgunj road section, while normal life in Kalaiya was affected.

In Rautahat, transporters decided not to resume operations on Birendra Highway. All long and short distance passenger buses in Gaur stayed off the roads. However, the district traffic police office in Chandranigahpur said traffic flow was normal on the East-West Mahendra Highway. MJF cadres led by their district vice-chairman Ganesh Yadav organised a cycle rally in the district headquarters.

In Jhapa, the effect of the strike was partial. Although long-route vehicles stayed off the roads, local vehicles were seen plying. Shops and bazaars were open in Bhadrapur, Birtamode, Dhulabari, Kankadbhitta, Budhbare, Surunga, Jhiljhile and Damak.

Vehicles also remained off the roads in Kapilvastu, where forum cadres torched two passenger buses on the Taulihawa section of Mahendra Highway in the morning.

Normal life in the Parasi region in Nawalparasi was also affected.