Curfews persist in three districts, five micro buses, two police beats vandalized

Though the unrest in some districts of eastern Tearai is turning into normalcy, there are reports of demonstrations in other places. The District Administration Offices of Siraha, Parsa and Bara imposed curfew on Saturday too.

Local administration of Parsa imposed curfew in Birgunj from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm as there were demonstrations since the morning. Despite the imposition of curfew, demonstrators led by Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) kept on protest defying the curfew order.

They also came on vandalism including two police beats and statue of late UML leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari in Birgunj. Likewise, local administration of Bara has imposed curfew from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm on Saturday.

Similarly, local administration of Siraha also imposed curfew in Lahan from 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm. Compared to the past few days, Lahan remained less tense on Saturday though there were sporadic demonstrations in Lahan bazaar area. A rally was staged prior to the curfew in Lahan in the morning reminding the residents that the ongoing protests were not communal in nature and urged Lahan residents not to make it so.

However, Jankapur, Biratnagar and Gaur of Rautahat district are reported to have been turning into normalcy. The curfews were not renewed there on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the bandh (general strike) called by the MJF has affected normal life in several districts of Terai on Saturday. MJF activists vandalized five microbuses ferrying passengers in Dharan-Biratnagar road section in front of Shubhadra Mill at Sonapur of Sunsari Saturday morning.

They vandalized the microbuses ferrying passengers from Itahari with the use of sticks, stones and other weapons. According to police, microbuses with the registration number of Ko. 1 Kha 1948, Ko. 1 Ja. 905, Ko. 1 Ja 1219, Ko. 1 Ja. 1191 and Ko. 1 Ja. 1148 were damaged.

Rautahat, Dhanusha, Saptari, Mottohari and Sarlahi districts were also severely affected by the strike. Marketplaces of these districts remained closed and traffic movement came to a complete standstill in towns and major highways.

The unrest, in eastern Terai, had begun from Lahan since January 19 following the demonstrations led by MJF.

The MJF has been protesting recently promulgated interim constitution accusing that the constitution failed to incorporate key issues Madheshi people. It has been demanding that the interim constitution must include provisions of autonomous federal state and ethnic population based proportional representation system in the Constitution Assembly (CA) poll.

In the series of violent riots, at least five individuals have been killed since January 19.

Curfews persist in three districts, five micro buses, two police beats vandalized

Did you enjoy this article?

Related news