Panitanki (West Bengal), Feb 5 (ANI): Hundreds of trucks have been stranded at Panitanki checkpost in West Bengal after Nepal border was closed following a transport strike called by an ethnic group.
The strike has been called by Limbuwan State Council, an ongoing movement by the people of Limbuwan to attain autonomy for their region of eastern Nepal.
The strike, which has been going on for past four days, is intended to pressurize the police to set free the group’s activists who were taken into custody.
Hundreds of trucks loaded with green vegetables, medicines, coal and other essential supplies are waiting at Panitanki for the border to open.
“We have been stranded here for last two-three days now. All our money is finished. We don’t know for how long the shutdown will go on. We will be forced to stay here,” said Rajeev Chaudhary, a stranded Indian truck driver.
Meanwhile, the Nepali citizens are also facing the brunt of the strike due to insufficient supply of commodities from India.
The strike is also affecting the daily wage earners who earn their wages through loading and unloading items from these trucks.
“We are daily wage earners and are entirely dependent upon our trade. Due to the situation in Nepal, the trucks from India cannot come here and likewise our trucks from Nepal cannot enter Indian territory. We are facing a lot of trouble due to all this,” said Praksh Dahal, a Nepali citizen.
The strike has crippled normal life across the nine eastern districts in Nepal. (ANI)