Life in various districts of eastern region been affected by the bandh called by Eastern Tharuwan Kochila State Joint Council (ETKSJC) on January 11. The group had called for the strike demanding Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha and Udaypur be declared as Tharuwan and Kochila state.

According to INSEC Jhapa representative Arjun Basnet, the bandh crippled life in the district. Vehicles stayed off the road while industries, markets remained shut. Central member of Kochila State Council Dinesh Rajbanshi said that the three-day strike called by them would be withdrawn if the government called them for dialogue. Peace and Reconstruction Minister Satya Pahadi had sent a letter to the ETKSJC on January 10 evening urging the group to come for talks.

Sukdev Chaudhary from Sunsari reported that there was no vehicular movement in the district.

Dipen Neupane from Morang reported that passengers were stranded as vehicles did not operate in the district due to the bandh. However, markets, industries and educational institutions were open.

Siraha representative Guru Sharan Sada said that the strike affected vehicular movement in the district.

The group has put forward demands, including right to self-determination to the six districts, implementation of six-point agreement reached with the Indigenous Nationalities, among others. A bandh was also called by the group on January 3.