Tharuhat Struggle Committee has decided to disassociate itself from the banda called by the United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF) in Sunsari and Morang districts. The East-West Highway had remained shut for the past 52 days and vehicles had been operating only through police escorting. But following the committee's decision, Tharu banda enforcers have withdrawn from the highway and vehicles are now operating without any hindrance. With the opening of the highway, the shops and businesses in Duhabi Municipality in Sunsari district have reopened. Tharuhat coordinator for the east, Santosh Tharu, who is also a former CA member, said they will not work with the UDMF anymore. "We have not officially circulated the information regarding banda withdrawal. Our awareness campaign and protests are still continuing," informed Mili Ram Chaudhary, Sunsrari-Morang coordinator of the committee. "Now our central committee will come up with new programs to take forward our demands and we will follow it accordingly," he said. Representatives of the Tharuhat committee said they will postpone their ongoing protests as soon as the government addresses their demands. "We want to postpone the banda for people's convenience. However, the government needs to address our demands for complete halt to protests," said a local-level Tharuhat leader of Sunsari. However, United Socialist Forum leader Ranjeet Goswami claimed that they are focusing more on border-blockade, hence the less effect of the banda on the highways. "We have decided to focus more in border-points to pressurize the government," said Goswami. "We will once again impose banda on the highways if the government refuses to address our demands."