Banda continues to paralyze east tarai

Banda continues to paralyze east tarai
eKantipur.com, 8-Oct-07

The indefinite banda called by various groups on the threshold of Dashain festival paralyzed normal life in the eastern part of the country. People have been facing more hardship as the local administration clamped curfew to control the situation from deteriorating after the fierce scuffle between the protestors and police.

Federal Limbuban State Council, Khumbuwan National Front, Federal Republic Front, Tamang Saling Autonomous State, Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) led by Kishwor Kumar Biswas among others called the indefinite strike demanding proportional electoral system, declaration of republic from the interim parliament, among other demands.

The strike mostly affected daily-wage workers, farmers, patients and consumers. There have been the short supplies of LP Gas and petroleum products, milk and vegetables in the areas.

Biratnagar dairy distribution project stopped to produce milk and ghee at Biratnagar recently.

In Saptari, patients are deprived of treatment in time and there is the shortage of medicine. Four persons died in the district due to the outbreak of diarrhea.

Meanwhile, farmers producing milk and vegetables in Dhankuta are affected due to the closure of transportation. Similarly, our correspondent from Sunsari reported that the daily-wage workers are living hard and unable to arrange essential goods for the coming festivals.

Meanwhile, Kishwor Kumar Bishwas faction of MPRF called off strike for three days, on Monday. Bishwas informed that they would again launch the banda after three days. Likewise, Limbuban-Khumbuban Federal Loktantrik National Forum on Monday decided to call off their strike for three days. "We have not withdrawn the protest because we are tired but we took the decision as per the request of public," said forum's chairman Kamal Chharhang.

Curfew affects life in Damak

Locals in Jhapa district have been facing difficulties due to the continuation of curfew imposed by the local administration. People at Maidhara are compelled to excrete inside their houses due to the curfew for the last three days. The locals are terrorized now after security force killed a youth on Sunday. People in the area do not have toilets inside their poorly built huts. One has to go to the nearby forest to answer nature's calls. Rights activist KP Subedi said the people are facing such difficulties for the last three days.