Nine transport entrepreneurs including Nepal Yatayat Bewasayi Rastriya Mahasangh Vice-Chairman Krishna Prasad Subedi were arrested for halting transport services in Dharan, Sunsari on Friday.

Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (NTE) today halted transport services across the country in protest against the government decision to ban transport syndicates.

The arrestees have been identified as Purbanchan Yatayat Bewasayi Sangh Vice-Chairman Mohan Mani Baral, Koshi Bus Bewasayi Sangh General Secretary Netra Thapa, Samyuka Bus Bewasayi Sangh Chairman Narendra Pomu, Saptakoshi Bus Bewasayi Sangh General Secretary Hari Thapa, Koshi Bus Bewasayi Sangh Vice Chairman Shyam Pokharel, Samyukta Bus Bewasayi Sangh Vice-Chairman Padam Sundar Limbu, the Area Police Office, Dharan said. They have been kept at the Area Police Office.

Transport entrepreneurs took to the streets after the government decided to make mandatory company registration and amend the Transport Management Directive-2004.

Long -and short-route vehicles stayed off the roads due to the strike. Ambulance, private vehicles, motorbikes, taxi and tempos are allowed to ply on the road.

Transport entrepreneurs aligned to various transport committees were arrested from across the country at the directive of Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa.

According to DSP Rameshwor Paudel, transport entrepreneurs in Dharan were detained for violating the law by enforcing transport strike.

Earlier this week, the government had called on transport entrepreneurs to desist from halting transport services as the public transportation is essential for the people.

The government had earlier scrapped the syndicate system and made the company registration mandatory for transport committees and called on transport entrepreneurs to operate transportation on the basis of competition.

The transport entrepreneurs have been pilling pressure on the government to revoke its decision of mandatory company registration and amendment to the Transport Management Directive-2004.

Meanwhile, Nepal Yatayat Bewasayi Rastriya Mahasangh Vice-Chairman Subedi has accused the Home Ministry of trying to instigate unrest.