Nepalgunj, October 30:

Banke district remained tense today due to a traffic strike called by transport workers. Long route passengers were stranded as vehicles were not allowed to proceed from Kohalpur on the East-West highway. Some passengers said the transport workers also misbehaved with them.

Inspector at the Kohalpur Area Police Office Bed Prasad Khanal said the transport workers blocked the path of the vehicles.

The situation become tense after a verbal spat between participants who are here to attend a conference of the Maoist-affiliated Health Workers’ Association, which is scheduled to take place in Nepalgunj tomorrow, and the transport workers at Kohalpur.

The transport workers ripped the banners of the health workers to shreds. They did not let either rickshaws or motorcycles to ply in Nepalgunj and Kohalpur. The Nepal Transport Independent Workers’ Association, demanding security for its members, has been staging a traffic strike in the district since yesterday.