Biratnagar, Surkhet Bandh; Normal life disturb

Biratnagar, Jan 21-Police intervened at a demonstration and arrested eight leaders of seven agitating parties in Biratnagar this morning.Among those arrested are zonal member of CPN-UML Rajendra Gautam, district members of CPN-UML Morang, Binod Dhakal, Ram Lal Shah, Mohan Udas, Kedar Basnet of Nepali Congress, Rajendra Rijal of NC-D, secretary of UML ward number 15 Bhanu Koirala and student leader Min Acharya.They have been kept at Armed Police Force Battalion situated at Tankisinwari.

The Biratnagar bandh called by Nepali Congress today has crippled normal life in Biratnagar.
Meanwhile, normal life in Surkhet came to abrupt halt due to the Surkhet bazaar bandh called by joint movement coordination committee Surkhet against the police intervention and arrests of around two dozens students from yesterdays' demonstrations. The shops in Surkhet bazaar remained closed. Few vehicles are plying on the road.

A report from Hetauda said Police intervened the protest programmes and arrested at least seventeen persons from different places in Hetauda, secretary of CPN-UML Makwanpur, Krishna Dahal said.

Mira Thapa of Jana Morcha Nepal and Basu Shrestha of NC were arrested from TCN Chowk while Ram Krishna Shrestha of CPN-UML, Raj Kumar Kayastha, Ram Krishna Deula, Iswor Prasad Dhakal, Shiva Lamichhane, Ganesh Rasaili and Achyut Aryal of Jana Morcha were arrested from Kamaldanda.