On August 23, 2022, the Communist Party of Nepal led by Biplav and the other four parties imposed countrywide Nepal Bandha. This has affected the districts of Lumbini Province.
The biggest impact of the bandh has been on the children. Students’ education has been hindered due to the closure of educational institutions. Likewise, people commuting were hindered, businesses, industries, and factories were also unable to operate.
The Nepal Bandh was imposed by protesting against MCC and accusing the government for not following the three-point agreement made by the then KP Sharma Oli-led government with Biplava-led CPN and releasing arrested warrants against the cadres of the party. Although the police arrested the activists who were marching for closure, no untoward incident happened. Kapilvastu and Banke district representatives informed that suspicious items were found in some places of their district.
According to District Representative Jayanarayan Pun: Police have arrested 15 cadres who were blocking the market and traffic. While they were walking to stop the market and vehicles, the police arrested Khuman Paudel, 22, of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan-15, the district coordinator of Akhil Revolutionary Party, which is close to Biplav-led CPN, district members Himal KC, 21, Tarjan Oli, 21, and Prakash Budhamagar, 23.
Those arrested from Lamhi include Janak BK, 35, of Dang Shantinagar Rural Municipality-3, Lamahi Municipality in-charge of Biplav-led CPN, Shomaram Thapa, 33, from Lamahi Napa-7, CPN supporters Lok Bahadur BK, 22, of Lamahi Municipality -3, Manoj BK, 33, Ajay Budha, 50, Narayan Thapa, 50, and Purna Bahadur KC, 62 .
Similarly, from Tulsipur, Hemant Prakash Oli, 25, of Tulsipur-5, district chairperson of the CPN-led People’s Press Association, Sudarshan Sripaili, 35, district coordinator of Youth Organization Nepal Dang, vice-chairperson Dipendra Oli and Sanjay Oli, 45, central member of All Nepal Revolutionary Trade Union Federation.
According to Kapilvastu representative Parbati Acharya, a suspicious object has been found on the Belandi bridge on the border of Shivaraj municipality and Buddhabhumi municipality. DSP JC Shah of District Police Office Kapilvastu informed that there were hooks placed in the middle of the bridge to pull the suspicious object tied in a red cloth. Urban and rural markets such as Chandrauta, Taulihawa, Gorusinghe, Jitpur Charanamber etc. have been closed. Long and short-distance public vehicles could not come into operation. Similarly, the closure of educational institutions affected the learning of students.
According to Banke representative Lakshmi Tharu, a glass bottle wrapped in a red cloth was found in Kohalpur Municipality-5 and 9 Wards under Nepalgunj road section and Purwapaschim Highway in Kohalpur. DSP Ain Bahadur Malla of the area police office Kohalpur said that the bomb disposal team of the Nepali Army disposed of the item. Due to the closure, the vehicles from different districts to their destination have been stopped.