Karnali Transport Entrepreneurs Association has enforced an indefinite strike along the Karnali Highway to protest the decision of an all-party meeting to allow the transportation firm, Chandan Nath Transport (CNT), operate its buses along the highway.

Min Bahadur Thapa, the association’s chairman, on Wednesday claimed that CNT was awarded the operation permit even though it did not fulfil the legal procedures. The strike, Thapa said,

will not call off the strike unless the papers submitted by CNT to obtain the permit is investigated.

The all-party meeting held at the Jumla District Administration Office had decided to allow CNT to operate the bus service along the Karnali Highway from April 29. Chief District Officer Rudra Prasad Pandit has urged the association to resume the bus service and take its grievances to the court for settlement, if it thinks that CNT had committed anything illegal. Hundreds of passengers have been affected by the strike.