Locals shut Bhurigaun in Bardiya district on Friday demanding that the government form Thakurbaba Municipality by incorporating at least four Village Development Committees. They also blocked the East West Highway for one-and-a-half hours.

The people demand that Babai, Suryapatuwa, Shivapur and Thakurdwar VDCs be brought together to form the municipality.

The vice-chairman of the Bardiya Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the agitation would continue until the Local Level Restructuring Committee addresses their demand.

The technical committee of the LLRC has proposed four municipalities and one village council after holding an all-party meeting in the district. However, the locals are dissatisfied at the proposal. They said the political parties and the committee members did not consult with them before sending the recommendation to the commission.

Local Development Officer Tejraj Sharma, coordinator of the district committee, said the area cannot be declared a municipality as its population of below 60,000.