Indefinite vehicular strike in Taplejung leaves passengers stranded

By Our Correspondent,Taplejung, Jan. 6: Passengers and general people have faced difficulties in Taplejung after the Joint Struggle Committee for Mukkumalung Protection and several other organisations imposed a vehicular strike in Taplejung and other adjoining districts. 

The indefinite transportation strike, announced by the Struggle Committee and seven other organisations, has affected life in Taplejung and other districts in Koshi Province.

The shutdown imposed along the Mechi Highway, Tamor Corridor and roads within Taplejung, has brought transportation services to a halt since Sunday.  Long-and short-distance vehicles departing from Taplejung, and vehicles operating within the district, remained non-operational due to the strike, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Similarly, tourists and visitors travelling to Taplejung have also been affected by the disruption in transport services. According to local business owners, travellers on urgent trips have been the most severely impacted while tourists and visitors to Taplejung have been forced to stay longer than planned.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer (CDO) Netra Prasad Sharma has said that security arrangements have been made to allow both public and private vehicles to operate despite the strike. 

CDO Sharma said that coordination has been established with  Panchthar and Ilam districts, and provisions for escorting vehicles wishing to operate have been arranged. According to police, a limited number of vehicles leaving and entering the district have been provided escorting by the security personnel to control any untoward incident. According to police, no serious untoward incident was reported till Sunday afternoon. 

The strike was called to denounce the decision to construct a cable car in Pathibhara of the Mukkumalung. The struggle committee has also demanded the release of their cadres arrested during the protest programme organised on January 1. The committee has also demanded the dissolution of the cable car construction project and evacuation of the base camp of the Armed Police Force set up downstream of Pathibhara.