An indefinite transport strike called by transport workers has badly affected normal life in the Eastern region.

Vehicles remained off the road in the main highways and urban areas from early morning today as four different transport workers’ unions jointly announced strike in Mechi, Koshi and Sagarmatha zones to protest the ‘force’ used by the police to make a driver sign false statement in a hit and run case.

Saying that there was no response to their demands, the transport workers, who called strike in Koshi yesterday, announced strike in Mechi and Sagarmatha also. Reports said no vechiles plied along the 150km stretch of the East-West Highway while traffic was out of order in main urban centres in the Eastern region like Damak, Itahari, Inaruwa and Dhankuta.

The protesters have alleged the police of forcing Hem Naryan Urau, the driver of a microbus that ran over a cyclist in Inaruwa, Sunsari district, on December 18, to sign a statement confessing that he killed the cyclist by reserving the vehicle.

Transport entrepreneurs have also supported the indefinite strike. Reports said negotiation between the transport workers and the police is underway to end the strike.