The indefinite banda called by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha continued on the seventh consecutive day on Saturday in several Tarai districts. Life was greatly affected as the protesters resorted violent activities.

Transportation was disrupted while market places remained closed in Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Sarlahi and Siraha, among other districts, due to the banda. Protesters torched two vehicles in Saptari and vandalised a number of others in Sunsari, Morang, Saptari and Kapilvastu for defying their protest.

The Morcha has been protesting the major parties earlier decision to federate the country into six states. Even after the new seven-state model has been announced, it failed to placate the protesting Madhes-based parties.

Banda enforcers set a truck on fire along Bhardaha-Koshi Barrage road in Saptari. The Kathmandu-bound truck (Ko 1 Kha 3389) was carrying vegetables. Similarly, protesters torched another truck at Portaha in the district.

Meanwhile, a passenger bus lost control and overturned after protesters hurled stones at Bhardaha on Saturday morning. Fourteen people sustained injuries in the incident, police said. The vehicle was heading west under police escorting. A passenger bus was vandalised in Pashchim Kusaha as well.

Meanwhile, police escorted 298 vehicles, which were stranded in Siraha, to their destination. Around 200 vehicles, mostly trucks, 

were escorted safely in Morang district. In Bhairahawa, local administration has imposed a ban on mass meetings, protest rallies from 11am to 5pm until Wednesday. The city remained tense as local people took to the street defying the indefinite banda enforced by Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and Tharuhat Struggle Committee. Meanwhile, protesting parties and the local administration reached a seven-point agreement on Saturday in order to maintain social harmony in the area.

Meanwhile, the family of Rajiv Raut, who was killed in police firing at Bhardaha in Saptari on Tuesday, has not received the body yet. Protesting locals urged the family members not to receive the body unless their demand is addressed. They have been demanding that Raut be declared a martyr and the family be provided Rs 2m in compensation. An all-party meeting was held in Rajbiraj, but failed to make headway. Meanwhile, Raut’s wife, a post-partum mother, has been admitted to Bhardaha hospital as she fell ill following her husband’s death.

(With inputs from local correspondents)