Bandh cripples life in western Terai; seven vehicles set ablaze

Life in Terai districts is crippled as the strike called by Tharu Kalyankari Sabha (TKS) continues on Sunday. Transportation along the east-west highway is obstructed and market and educational institutions have remained closed due to the strike. Cadres of TKS have started demonstrations in the eastern districts of Sunsari and Saptari.

Accusing of not complying with the strike, demonstrators have set ablaze two passenger buses in Saptari Sunday morning. Earlier, a different group of TKS cadres had set fire to five vehicles including three trucks, one micro bus and one jeep in Deukhuri of Dang.

TKS had called a two-day strike from February 7 - 8 protesting against the recently issued ordinance that includes Tharus in the group of Madhesis. It has been demanding for a different state of Tharuhat and protesting against the idea of 'One Madhesh, One State'.

"We are not Madhesis, but aboriginal races of the Terai that have been living in the southern plains of Nepal since thousands of years," said Raj Kumar Lekhi, general secretary of TKS speaking to Avenues Television Sunday morning.

Accusing the government of trying to repress their identity and playing under the instructions of foreign power, Lekhi added, "The government has totally ignored our demands. A meeting of our party tonight will announce further protest programmes." nepalnews.com ta Feb 08 09