Life in Terai affected by MJF called Bandh

Normal life, transportation, business and other activities has been affected due to the Terai bandh called by the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).

Long-distance as well as short-route buses and vehicles have largely stalled at the roads in sections of East West Highway and in places of eastern terai such as Biratnagar, Rautahat, Mahottari, Bara, Parsa, Siraha and Sunsari.

In Gaur of Rautahat, the local administration has clamped prohibitory orders banning public gatherings for three days beginning Friday.

In Janakpurdham, demonstrators burnt tyres on the road and bazaars remained totally closed. MJF activists also beat up two Maoist cadres and vandlised two tractors at janak Chowk this morning, police said.

Similarly, no vehicle plied from Itahari and Inaruwa of Sunsari district today. Biratnagar bazaar remained totally shut.

The bandh also affected life in Nawalparasi district but the vehicles were plying as usual on the Mahendra Highway.

Despite the appeal by the government, the MJF has gone ahead with its three day bandh on April 20-22 demanding that the government revoke the recommendations made by Electoral Constituency Delineation Commission (ECDC) and form a high level commission to investigate atrocities against the people of Madhes during their January/February agitation, among others.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) has cancelled its pre-scheduled mass meeting in Janakpur on April 21 owing to the MJF bandh. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was scheduled to address the gathering.