Siraha, August 10:

Transporters and transport workers enforced indefinite eastern region bandh today to protest the murder of bus driver Krishna Khawas. The bandh has affected life in Koshi, Mechi and Sagarmatha zones.

A gang of dacoits had shot dead Khawas in Mahottari’s Kalinjor Jungle area on Thursday.

Transporters have demanded security for them and transport workers, compensation for the family of Khawas and punishment for the murderers.

The transporters brought traffic to a halt in Siraha district today. Vehicular movement came to a halt in Ramnagar Mirchaiya and Lahan also. The East-West Highway wore a deserted look.

Transport workers brought traffic to a halt in Udaypur district as well. Vehicular movement was nil in Gaight, Beltar, Rampur and Katari bazaar. Expressing solidarity with the strike, Udaypur Jeep and Tempo Organisation blocked road on the Gaighat-Jaljale road stretch.

The strike called by the transport entrepreneurs also affected normal life in Dhankuta district. All vehicles were stayed off the Koshi highway.

The agitators forced the closure of markets in Sunsari district to pressure the government to meet their demands.

No vehicle plied the Itahari-Dharan road. Hundreds of passengers were stranded as vehicles stayed off the road in Saptari, Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar and Morang districts.