Cadres and leaders of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) have completely barred vehicular movement in Lahan of Siraha, Dhalkebar of Dhanusha, Bardibas of Mahottari and dozens of other places adjoining the highway.
But the highest number of buses are stranded in Bardibas. Passengers and drivers of those vehicles have been struggling to even manage food for themselves.
Angered by the Saptari incident, cadres and leaders of the agitating UDMF have stepped up protests since early Sunday at various places including the district headquarters Jaleshwar, Ramgopalpur, Aurahi, Samsi, Matihani, Pipari along with other main market areas.
The baton-wielding agitators forced shops in marketplaces to shut down, set tires on fire at various crossroads and chanted slogans against the government throughout the day.
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Intelligentsia of the district claim the peaceful protests in the district turned violent following the death of the two protesters in Saptari. "Instead of bringing solution through talks, the government has chosen to gun down protesters and make situation worse," said Dubra Rai, a local.
Meanwhile, the traffic police deployed at East Regional Police Office in Itahari chased away a group of passengers who had reached there to demand police escorting for their vehicles late on Saturday night.
"A group of passenger chanted slogans in front of the police office demanding police escort for their vehicles," recalled Bhim Poudel of Veri Ganga, Surkhet. "Then six or seven policemen came out with batons and chased them away while shouting at them to make their demands before Prime Minister K P Oli," he added.
Police escort for night buses ceased since Saturday night following the tense situation in Saptari.
DSP Saroj Poudel of the office claimed that police had to push back at passengers after they tried to vandalize the gate of the traffic office.
