The indefinite bandh (shutdown strike) called Chure Bhawar Ekta Samaj continues to paralyse normal life in Terai districts.

The bandh has left thousands of passengers stranded at different places along the East West Highway while marketplaces, academic institutions and transport services have been affected in Terai districts like Siraha, Saptari, Rautahat, Dhanusha, Sunsari, Morang, Sarlahi and Rautahat.

The Chure-Bhawar bandh continues since last six days despite the government’s talks offer to the Samaj to resolve the problems politically.

The group has accused the government of ignoring its demands that include an ‘autonomous Chure-Bhawar region’, release of its activists arrested last month and investigation into the loss of lives in recent agitations in Terai.

To make the situation worse, an armed outfit called Madhesi Tigers has announced a two-day bandh from Saturday. The Tigers’ bandh has mainly affected Siraha, Saptari, Morang and Sunsari districts. Public transport and businesses in these districts have been badly hit due to the bandh.

The group, which is involved in individual killings, extortion and abduction, announced the bandh demanding release of two of its cadres arrested recently from Saptari.

The Tigers hurled a socket bomb at a microbus carrying journalists in Sunsari this morning. However, the six reporters traveling by the microbus escaped unhurt as the attackers missed the target, reports said.