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Transport strike in eastern region called off

The transport strike in force in the eastern region has been called off from Monday evening following understanding between the police and administration and the transport entrepreneurs.

The strike had paralysed the eastern region since Sunday after the transporters announced indefinite strike complaining that the police were working to frame a truck driver Hem Narayan Urau on a murder charge. They said that police and families of Ram Dev Poddar, 59, who was run over at Inaruwa on December 18 by the truck, were trying to slap murder charge against Urau and were demanding hefty compensation.

The day-long discussions held at Itahari among the eight party representatives, transport entrepreneurs, family of victim and police/administration, on Monday, finally concluded in the evening.

The administration is reported to have convinced the transport entrepreneurs that the erring truck driver would be punished as per the law and appropriate compensation will be negotiated. Reports say that although the family and relatives of Poddar have not yet agreed to the understanding, the chief district officer of Sunsari Sharda Prasad Poudel and deputy superintendent of police Nar Bahadur KC have told transporters that they will try and convince them.

The strike was announced by four transport unions – Nepal Free Transport Workers' Union, Nepal Transport Workers' Union, All Nepal Transport Workers' Union and Nepal Transport Drivers' Union. nepalnews.com sd Jan 09 07