Birgunj, August 14 :

The indefinite Narayani zone transportation strike was withdrawn this evening after the transport workers and local administration reached an agreement today.

The Nepal Transport Free Workers’ Union (NTFWU) had called the strike to protest against the death of a Nepali bus driver at Rakshaul Bazaar in India on Saturday.

Bus driver Ram Bahadur Tamang, 49, of Chitwan Bhandara-8, was allegedly beaten to death at Rakshaul by the Indian Police at the custom office.

The NTFWU withdrew all protest programmes after a five-point agreement was reached with the Parsa District Administration Office after seven-hour-long talks. The agreement includes a compensation of Rs 500,000 to Tamang’s family. The money would be deposited at the Rastriya Banijya Bank, Chitwan branch, and will be used for Tamang’s son’s schooling. It was also agreed that a member of Tamang’s family would be given a job and Rs 10,000 would be immediately given to perform tamang’s funeral rites, Parsa Chief District Officer, Nabin Kumar Ghimire, said. It was also agreed that a report about action against the culprits and compensation for the Tamang family will be made public in seven days.

Earlier in the day, transport workers staged a sit-in at the office of the Indian Consulate General here along with Tamang’s body and demanded appropriate compensation for the victim’s family and action against the culprits.

No vehicles plied on Birgunj roads and passengers bound for the capital were stranded.

Even air passengers could not reach Simara airport due to the blockade.

No import and export activities took place today at Birgunj and Rakshaul due to the strike.

Indian Consulate General, C Gururaj Rao, said a process of providing compensation to the victim’s family from the Indian side cannot progress until a post mortem report and FIR (First Information Report) from Rakshaul police are received.

Tamang’s post mortem report shows serious injuries in the head and body, SP at the Parsa district police office, Yadav Adhikari, said, adding that samples have been sent to the capital for further tests.

Also today in Hetauda, no vehicles plied due to the strike.

In Chitwan, transport workers staged a chakkajam since early morning and blocked traffic at Lions Chowk, Pulchowk and Pokhara Bus Park.

In Bara, vehicles remained off the roads due to the transport blockade organised by transport workers.

In Rautahat, hundreds of passengers were stranded at Chandranigahapur of Mahendra Highway due to the chakkajam.