TANAHUN: Protesting against federalism, Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal (RJN) enforced a bandh in Gandaki and Dhaulagiri zones today. Normal life in Mustang, Parbat, Baglung and Myagdi districts in Dhaulagari and Manang, Kaski, Syangja, Tanahun and Gorkha districts in Gandaki was affected due to the strike.

RJN central deputy-chairman, Shankar Baral maintained that the bandh was the last part of their third phase of protest programme.

According to Tanahun police, demonstrators vandalised two motorcycles in Damauli for defying the bandh. The police, however, escorted more than three dozen vehicles bound to Pokhara from Narayangarh. They also detained some protesters as they tried to obstruct the escorted vehicles.

Enforcing the bandh, demonstrators obstructed the release of the Burtibang, a weekly published from Baglung. The cadres also threatened its editor Lokendra Nirasi and other reporters. Nevertheless, Sashidhar Argeja, a senior citizen, released the paper at an informal programme on the road.

Industries, marketplaces and education institutions in the districts remained shut while vehicles remained off the road. No vehicles plied in Gandaki-Dhaulagari road section. Although only a few demonstrators were seen on the roads, none dared defiance.

Maoists’ strike in Taplejung

TAPLEJUNG: Owing to bandh called by UCPN-Maoist, normal life in Taplejung came to a standstill on Sunday. The Maoists imposed the bandh demanding martyrs status to their cadres killed by different groups in the past. They have also demanded compensation to the victims' families and stern action against the culprits. Marketplaces remained shut while vehicles did not ply throughout the day. Government and private offices too remained shut. They claimed that they enforced the bandh as the government was apathetic to their demands. The Maoists said they would announce a month-long protest programme.