Janarkpurdham/Rajbiraj, September 9

Three persons were killed in Mahottari and one in Saptari when police opened fire on unruly protesters during an indefinite general strike called by the United Democratic Madhesi Front today.

Superintendent of Police Saurav Rana of Mahottari district police office identified the deceased as Amit Kapar, 21, and Rohan Chaudhary, 24, of Jaleshwor, and Ram Bibek Yadav, 22, of Mahottari VDC. They were among the protesters trying to picket the district police office when police opened fire, as police baton-charge did not disperse them and they resorted to arson. SP Rana said the office of the district attorney was damaged in an arson attack.

Four agitators were injured in police firing. Of them three — Birendra Mahato, Birendra Bichchha and Santosh Sah — have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. One of the injured is undergoing treatment at the Janakpur Zonal Hospital. Hospital authorities claim 47 persons were injured in police action.

Jaleshwor was declared a prohibited zone after the clashes and an indefinite curfew was clamped at 8:00pm. Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal’s Mahottari chairperson Ramnaresh Raya accused the police of firing indiscriminately at demonstrators.

In Saptari, 60-year-old Ramkisun Raut of Portaha VDC was killed on the spot in police firing in Bhardaha. The agitating UDMF cadres had placed a tree on Bhardaha section of East-West Highway and a clash ensued when a team of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force tried to remove the blockade.

According to Saptari CDO Birendra Kumar Yadav, police had to open firing after attempts to take the situation under control by baton charging and firing of tear gas shells failed.

Saptari district administration has clamped a 16-hour curfew in the Bhardaha area from 2:00pm.