Bhojpur, November 27

Locals today vandalised and set ablaze the dais prepared by the United Democratic Madhesi Front for a mass meeting in Itahari, Sunsari. Following the locals’ protest, leaders affiliated to UDMF were not able to attend the mass meeting.

According to Sunsari Police, local youths stormed the UDMF meeting venue, ransacked the dais and set it ablaze while UDMF cadres were arranging chairs on the stage.

After vandalism and arson, agitating youths burnt tyres on all four points of the street and staged demonstration in Itahari. They shouted slogans against the One-Madhes-One-Pradesh and demanded to keep Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari in Province No 1. They said they would allow UDMF to organise any programme in Itahari.

Hundreds of police personnel were deployed to avert any untoward incident. SP Sanjay Raj Sharma of Sunsari said despite ruling parties’ directive to their sister organisations not to foil the UDMF’s programme, party cadres and local youths resorted to vandalism and arson. “Vandalism and arson do not bode well for the communal harmony,” said Sharma.

After the violent incident, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav and Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato were not able to attend the programme in Itahari as scheduled earlier.

UDMF cadres set up another stage at the site where the first stage was torched and local leaders addressed the programme at around 3:00pm.

Federal Limbuwan Party Chairman Kumar Lingden was among those who spoke at the programme. He said locals had made a mistake by blocking UDMF leaders from attending the programme in Itahari. “This agitation is for the rights of everyone.

Had we welcomed Upendra Yadav and Mahantha Thakur in Itahari, we would have been welcomed in Janakpur,” Lingden remarked.