Normal life in Terai region has been affected Tuesday due to the Terai bandh (general strike) called by the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) to protest the interim constitution promulgated yesterday by the interim legislature.

The forum called the general strike saying that the interim constitution is full of flaws and it did not address the demands of Madheshi people.

Life in eastern Terai has been more affected than in western Terai due to the bandh. All the businesses and educational institutions remained closed and vehicles remained largely off the road.

Sunsari, Morang, Siraha, Dhanusha, Saptari, Mahottari, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat districts in the eastern Terai and Banke in the west were highly affected by the strike. Major towns like Biratnagar, Birgunj, Janakpur, Itahari and Nepalgunj remained totally closed.

Meanwhile, Biratnagar and Morang areas remained tense today after some parked vehicles were vandalised by MPRF members. There were clashes between MPRF and transport workers yesterday.

Over 6 people were injured in scuffles between the forum members and transport workers today as well.

In Birgunj, activists of the forum vandalised a statue of the late King Mahendra located in the premises of the city hall.

The reinstated House of Representatives passed the interim constitution, which was later approved by the interim legislature on Monday.