Normal life in various districts of Tarai region including Saptari has been badly affected due to an indefinite strike enforced by the Madhes-centric parties for the last 18 days. 

The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), a joint front of Madhes-based parties, has been enforcing the strike to protest against the seven-state federal set-up agreed by the major political parties to be adopted in the new constitution. 

Vehicles stayed off the road, industries, educational institutions and business have been shut down, throwing the normal life out of gear in the district. 

Likewise, the consumers are facing the shortage of daily essentials while the prices of the commodities have skyrocketed. 

The agitating parties’ cadres have obstructed the vehicular movement from the district headquarters to other parts in the district while they have created obstacles in different parts of the East-West Highway as well. 

Likewise, the cadres of SLMM vandalised more than a dozen vehicles at Rupani along the East-West Highway in the district on the charge of defying the strike. 

The Area Police Office, Rupani, has said that the vehicles were partially damaged in the incident. RSS