Tharu banda paralyzes Tarai

CHITWAN, March 3: Life in various districts in the Tarai has been affected by a general shutdown called by the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, an ethnic-based group, on Tuesday to protest the government’s listing of Tharus under Madhesi category.



The student wing of the Sabha, demanding that Tharus should not be removed from the list of indigenous groups, has blocked a section of the East-West Highway at Tandi in Chitwan district from 8:30 a.m. [break]



The protestors have obstructed vehicular movement at a 35-kilometer stretch of the highway from Tikauli to Lothar by burning tires. Even pedallers have been barred. The strike has also affected educational institutions and market.



Similarly, the strike has also affected transport, schools and colleges and markets in Siraha, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and western districts of Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur.



Transport services in Siraha, Udayapur, Saptari, Sunsari and Morang districts in the east have been affected by the strike. Meanwhile, the strike enforcers have vandalized a dairy vehicle (Ba 2 Cha 7566) and a motorcycle (Ko 4 Pa 4752) in Jhumka, Sunsari.



Similarly, Pallo Kirant National Limbuwan Forum, an ethnic-based outfit, has called “Mechi banda” [shutdown] demanding autonomy for various hill districts including Taplejung, Panchthar, Illam and Jhapa. But Eastern Regional Police Headquarters in Biratnagar claimed that some public vehicles and a few motorcycles are operating in Jhapa.



The shutdown has also had its impact in Butwal, Bhairahawa, Parasi and Taulihawa.

 

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