The agitating Madhesi Morcha on Sunday disrupted classes of schools and colleges, which were opened by the Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee (TGSC), in Banke district. Both Madhesi Morcha and TJSC have been staging protests for the last five days demanding identity-based federalism. The TJSC had decided to allow schools and colleges in Banke to resume classes from Sunday. Schools and colleges had resumed classes from Sunday morning after Chandra Bahadur Chaudhary, coordinator of TJSC, Banke issued a letter. However, cadres of Madhesi Morcha shut them down again. Students as well as teachers returned home after their institutions were shut down. Pashupati Dayal Mishra, leader of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, who has been coordinating the protests in the district, said the Madhesi Morcha shut down schools and colleges keeping in view security of the students. "We have shut down the academic institutions keeping in mind to the security of the innocent students," said Mishra. However, Chandra Bahadur Chaudhary, coordinator of TJSC, Banke district, has asked schools and colleges to reopen without fear. "We don't know why the Madhesi Morcha forced the closure of schools. But we will not disrupt academic activities," he added. He said the TJSC will hold discussions with Madhesi Morcha over whether to continue joint protests.

The TJSC had agreed to allow academic institutions to run during a discussion held with human right activists and lawyers two days ago. Banda supporters Fula Ram Tharu and Binod Tharu had even signed an agreement not to involve children in the protests and help vehicles of academic institutions to run smoothly during their strike. "One side has asked us to resume classes and the other has warned us against it," said a teacher. "I am worried about the upcoming exam as classes have been disrupted for several days," complained Susmita Sharma, a seventh-grader at Mahendra Namuna Higher Secondary School. Mina Chaudhary, a ninth-grader at Mangal Prasad Higher Secondary School, also complained that students have been affected by the prolonged strike. Thousands of students in the district have been affected by the strike called by the TJSC and Madhesi Morcha.