Rupandehi, March 30:

The bandh called to protest the killing of Youth Force member Prachanda Thaiba and subsequent curfew for the last few days has affected normal life in Rupandehi and

skyrocketed the prices of daily essentials.

Saraswati Thapa, a housewife in Butwal, said she had purchased a kg of gourd at Rs 11 on Thursday but she paid Rs 30 for the same today. Likewise, the price of cauliflower had jumped to Rs 40 per kg from Rs 24.

The bandh called by the district chapters of Youth Force and UML continued today as well. They have enforced the bandh since Friday.

A large number of people crowded shops in Jogikuti where the market opened today despite the bandh.

However, the market was short of vegetables as supplies had been disrupted for at least four days. Mostly vegetables are supplied to Butwal from Palpa and India.

The consumers are also forced to pay exorbitant prices in the black market as some greedy marketers were cashing in with the situation.

Most of the shops, industries, schools and transport services remained closed today. Even the movement of bicycles and rickshaws was restricted in some places.

Meanwhile, the local administration has lifted the curfew in Butwal from 5 am today. The curfew was in place since Friday.

A meeting of UML district committee yesterday decided to intensify the agitation to press the government to book the culprits involved in Thaiba’s killing, declare him a martyr and provide compensation to his next of kin.

The CPN-UML took out a rally in Butwal today.

The rally that began from Chauraha marched through several parts of the city before converging into a corner meet at Pushpalal Chowk.