Far-west defies call by big three

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

DHANGADI: Defying the call of top leaders of the three major parties – UCPN-M, Nepali Congress and UML – to suspend the indefinite bandh, agitation demanding for the undivided Far-west persisted today as well.

Bandh enforcers set a motorbike ablaze at Kailai’s Attariya, according to the Area Police Office Malakheti, Kailali. Five commuter buses heading to Mahendranagar from Mahakali were vandalised. Windowpanes of the vehicles have been damaged in the incident.

Three persons including Inspector Subas Hamal were injured while police they tried to bring the situation under control. Injured Hamal, passenger Rajendra Ghimire and local of Mahendranagar bazaar Laxendra Sarki have received cuts on their heads, hands and abdomen.

Meanwhile, protest rallies were held in Dhangadi demanding intact Far-west. Nepali Congress Doti president Bir Bahadur Balayar said that they would continue their struggle until the government addressed their demands.

Supporters of the undivided Far-west also took out rallies at Kailali’s Attariya. Speaking at the corner meeting after the rally, Lokraj Pandey said that they would not stop their protest until the parties assure them in writing guaranteeing intact Far-west.

Issuing a press release today, Far-western Jagaran Manch said that indefinite bandh had not been called off.

At a time when the protest for and against undivided Far-west region is underway, Ranatharu community of Kailali and Kanchanpur have demanded for separate Ranatharu federal state

encompassing Kailali and

Kanchanpur saying that their ancestors had been living

in the districts for over five centuries.

Ranatharus held protest rallies in Dhangadi demanding that they be included

in the category of indigenous list. Shivaraj Rana, vice-chairman of Ranatharu Society demanded that Kailali and Kanchanpur be carved out as separate states.

Tharu Struggle Committ-ee member Shivanarayan Rana said that they were

not trying to disturb the ethnic harmony demanding a separate Ranathruwan

state.

Issuing a press release today, Janamorcha Seti-Mahakali chairman Nandaraj Bhatta called upon all the stakeholders to maintain ethnic harmony and warned that federalism would disintegrate the country.