Rautahat, June 5:

Normal life in most of the Tarai districts was affected today, the second day of the three-day bandh called by the Madhesi Tigers (MT).

The bandh was called in protest against the killing of an MT cadre in Siraha district. The MT is also demanding authorities release two MT activists they have arrested.

Academic institutions, factories and bazaars remained shut, while vehicles stayed off the roads in Rautahat district. Only a handful of vehicles plied on Mahendra Highway.

In Siraha district, normal life was thrown out of gear as academic institutions, business centres and factories remained shut. In Bara, most of the shops and academic institutions

remained shut in Kalaiya, the district headquarters. Only a few vehicles were seen plying in the district.

No vehicles plied in Rajbiraj throughout the day. Bazaars and academic institutions remained shut in the district. The bandh also affected life in Saptari’s Kanchanpur, Barsain, Parta, Hanuman Nagar, among other areas. Normal life was also hit in Mahottari, Dhanusha and Sunsari, among other districts in the region.

Birgunj shut at BCCI call

Birgunj: Birgunj bazaar remained shut on Tuesday at the call of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). The bandh had been called as a mark of protest against the killing of a worker at the showroom of Sonalika Tractors.

Two unidentified men yesterday opened fire at the showroom at Adarshanagar, killing one and injuring three others.

A rally taken out from the BCCI premises by businessmen today later reached the Parsa district administration office (DAO).

A brief clash ensued when security personnel tried to stop demonstrators from entering the DAO premises.

As the traders continued chanting slogans for about one hour in the DAO premises, the Chief District Officer (CDO), Dipak Kumar Joshi, came out of his office and accepted a memorandum.

BCCI treasurer Ashok Kumar Baidhya handed over the memorandum to the CDO.

The CDO condemned yesterday’s incident and directed security agencies to make proper security arrangements in the district. Businessmen here are a terrified lot as the number of crime has shot up in the district in the past one month. —HNS