Rautahat, January 30:

Normal life in Rutahat district was crippled today due to the one-day Tarai bandh called by the Terai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) to protest the government’s decision to establish Integrated Service Centre in Chandranigahpur.

Transport services on long and short routes from Gaur, the district headquarters, were disrupted and markets, industries and educational institutions were shut down.

The agitators demonstrated in different parts of the district, including Kathariya, Garuda, Gangapipara and Samanpur.

A large number of security personnel was deployed to prevent any untoward situation in the district. The government decided to set up the centre in Chandranigahpur to facilitate easy access of people of 26 VDCs.

The student organisations affiliated with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML also protested the government’s decision.

Likewise, the TMDP bandh also crippled life in Saptari, Birgunj (Parsa), Bara and Sarlahi. TMDP cadres organised protests by torching tyres in Ghantaghar, Maisthan, Adarshanagar and Alkhiyamath Chowk in Birgunj.

The protesters seized a Tata pick-up van heading from Bharatpur to Birgunj and torched copies of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies.

The strike also affected life in Biratnagar and Siraha.

More protests announced

KATHMANDU: Unveiling its second phase of protest programmes from February 5 to 28, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party on Friday asked the government to roll back its decision to

“minimise various district headquarters politically, socially and economically”.

The protests include sit-ins, rallies, candle processions, whistle blowing, and torch processions on different days, which will culminate in day-long peaceful bandh across the Tarai on February 28. On this day last year, a joint Madhesi front had signed an agreement with the government paving the way for the CA elections in April. It has also criticised the PM’s address to the nation earlier this week for failing to address the Madhesis’ concerns. The agitation in could go out of control if the government failed to address the concerns, the statement reads. — HNS