A general strike called by the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) to protest against the June 28 local level elections threw life out of gear in various Tarai districts on Tuesday.

Accusing the government of failing to address its demands including an amendment to the constitution, the RJP-N has announced fresh protests, as part of which it enforced a general strike in Tarai districts on Tuesday.

In Janakpur, educational institutions and marketplaces remained shut while vehicles stayed off the roads. Protesters vandalised at least three vehicles at Mujeliya and one hardware shop at Bramarpura.

In Mahottari, RJP-N members vandalised a vehicle belonging to Deep Narayan Sah, a former state minister. Sah said he and his driver sustained injuries when protesters hurled stones at his vehicle. Protesters also obstructed a programme of an NGO being held at the Red Cross building in Jaleshwor.

In Saptari, passengers were left in the lurch after buses were stopped at Rupani, Shambhunath, Kadmaha and Kalyanpur areas along the East-West Highway.

In Sarlahi, RJP-N supporters burnt tyres and obstructed vehicular movement at Malangawa, the district headquarters. The District Election Office cancelled training for election officials in view of the RJP-N protests.

In Kapilvastu, protesters shut Taulihawa, Krishna-nagar and Chandrauta Bazaar.

In Bara also, protesters burnt tyres and obstructed vehicular movement along the highways. 

The RJP-N has said it will further intensify protests aiming to disrupt the second phase of polls, as its demands have not been addressed.

14 protesters held in Nawalparasi

NAWALPARASI: Police briefly detained over a dozen Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) supporters in Buddha Chowk when they were trying to shut marketplaces in Parasi, the district headquarters of Nawalparasi, on Tuesday. They were released after four hours, according to police. Protesters then reached Buddha Chowk again and held demonstrations. They also vandalised a Scorpio jeep in Parasi.