National
Banda continues to cripple life in Tarai
The indefinite banda called by Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and Tharuhat supporters, among others, affected normal life in various Tarai districts on Sunday as well.The indefinite banda called by Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and Tharuhat supporters, among others, affected normal life in various Tarai districts on Sunday as well.
Life was greatly affected in Morang, Sunsari, Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Chitwan and Udayapur districts while the banda had minimal effect in other districts. Though security personnel escorted some vehicles, hundreds of people are still stranded at several places.
Around half a dozen people, including a policeman, were injured in a clash that took place at Narayangadh on the first day of the four-day banda called by the Tharu Kalyankari Sabha in Chitwan on Sunday.
The clash took place after businessmen in Narayangadh exerted pressure to open market. The Sabha has called the banda demanding that Chitwan be declared the provincial capital and past agreement with the Tharus be implemented.
Aaround half a dozen banda enforcers were injured in a clash that ensued after police resorted to baton charge. Police Inspector Satya Narayan Thapa sustained injury during the clash.
Educational institutions, markets, factories remained closed throughout the day due to the banda.
In Saptari, protesters took out a silent rally. Normal life of Janakpur has also been affected by the ongoing banda called by Madheshi Morcha and CPN-Maoist in the district. Protesters took out a rally, shut down shops and vandalised some tractors.
In Rautahat, passengers are left stranded for the past 16 days due to the ongoing banda. Locals said they are unable to buy daily essentials as shops are closed for several
days. Meanwhile, the Tharuhat-Madhesi Samyukta Sangharsha Committee resumed their banda in Banke and Bardiya districts from Sunday. The banda was called for the past two days for Rakshyabandhan festival. In Nepalgnj and Kohalpur, security measures have been tightened following the Tikapur clash.
Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha in Bara demonstrated in Kalaiya demanding that Nepal Army mobilised in some places, including Tikapur in Kailali, be sent back to barracks. Demonstrators manhandled a local resident blaming that he misbehaved the protesters during a corner meet. Twenty-five-year-old Amit Barma of Kalaiya-5 sustained injuries in his head while riding a motorcycle at Bharatchok.
Likewise, in Biratnagar, various demostrators staged rallies demanding that the country be declared a Hindu state. Some organisations are holding Dharma Sabha in Biratnagar daily for the past one week.
Our correspondent in Mahottari said Rastriya Madhesh Samajbadi Party Chairman Sharat Singh Bhandari said four parties were not serious though Prime Minsiter Sushil Koirala wrote letters to the protesting parties for dialogues.
Meanwhile, Jayaram Yadav, central member of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, said that children are deprived of education due to the ongoing banda.