Banda paralyzes life in central and eastern Terai

Banda (general strike) called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) and Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) has left life adversely affected in various parts of central region and eastern Terai Saturday.

The tensions rose in Narayangadh and Chitwan between the NFIN cadres attempting to enforce the strike announcement and the Maoist cadres who were urging people to defy the strike. The police had intervened the incident to prevent from being more deteriorated.

In Dolakha district, NFIN activists have torched one Pajero for defying bandh. Hundreds of NFIN activists took out rally highlighting their demands.

The market places in Gaighat, Beltar, Sindhulimadi, and Janakpur also remained closed due to the bandh. The highways are deserted with no vehicles being plied.

Banda organizer NFIN has been demanding the government address their various demands including recognition of mother languages of indigenous community in government works and guarantee of federal structure based on ethnic, regional and lingual identities, among others and make the necessary amendments in the interim constitution.

Similarly, the districts of eastern Terai have also been affected in third consecutive day of banda called by Goit led JTMM, a faction of CPN-Maoist.

The market places in Gaighat, Beltar, Sindhulimadi, and Janakpur have been closed due while the highways are deserted.

Meanwhile, the irate cadres of MJF are reported to have set two buses ablaze in Marchawar region of Rupandehi district. The buses were being used by the Maoists to carry their workers and supporters to Butwal where chairman Prachanda is scheduled to address a mass gathering Saturday.

In Nepalgunj also, Maoist activists have vandalized the venue where a program was being organized by MJF. Few people are reported to have injured when clash took place between Maoist activists and MJFactivists.