Dharan, October 5:

The Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC) and Khambuwan National Front (KNF) called off their bandh in the east today following the postponement of the constituent assembly polls.

Issuing a press release, the FLSC and KNF said the polls were postponed owing to pressure piled by them and other groups. The press release added that they have taken the suspension of the polls positively. The poll postponement means failure of the seven-party alliance to make the constituent assembly status quoist, the press release said.

Demanding a federal democratic republic, formation of a Khambuwan state and proportionate elections based on ethnicity, the ethnic organisations staged protests today. “The CA polls cannot be held till our demands are met. We will continue to stage protests till our demands are met,” said Janak Chemjong, a central member of the FLSC.

General secretary of the Federal Democratic National Forum, Kumar Lingden, said that the forum has not decided whether or not to call off the bandh.

Meanwhile, a week-long bandh called by different ethnic organisations, demanding Limbuwan, Khambuwan and Tamangsaling Autonomous States, entered the third day today. Travellers from different parts of Taplejung and Panchthar, who were headed to their hometowns in Tarai through Jhapa for Dashain celebrations, headed home on foot.

The employees and teachers headed for Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha and Mahottari have left for their destinations on foot, said local hoteliers. Educational institutions, transportation, factories and shops remained shut in Panchthar due to the bandh. Vehicular movement has come to a halt on the Mechi Highway. All the industries and businesses remained closed in Panchthar, Ilam and Phungling, the district headquarters of Taplejung.

Bandh impact in Kalaiya

BARA: Life remained affected in Kalaiya on Friday, the second day of a three-day Madhes bandh called by the Rajendra Mahato faction of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party. Markets and educational institutions in Kalaiya and adjoining areas remained closed, while agitators vandalised a tempo in front of the Kalaiya office of the Nepal Electricity Authority. — HNS