Nawalparasi, August 21

Agitators torched Hatibangai temporary police post during today’s Tarai-Madhes general strike in Rupandehi.

Joint Democratic Madhesi Morcha has been enforcing indefinite bandh in the plains to protest the draft statute and federal model proposed by the major political parties for the past few days.

Bandh enforcers stormed the temporary police post, took out a cot, police uniforms and other items and set them afire, alleging that police suppressed their peaceful agitation. No police personnel was at the post when the incident occurred.

Elsewhere, a clash broke out between police and bandh organisers when the latter tried to set Maryadpur Police Post at Marchawar, Rupandehi, on fire. District Police Office said some people from both the sides were injured in the clash.

Bandh organisers staged a demonstration, vandalised the public property and set it on fire at Marchwar, Hatibangai, and Basantpur areas in Rupandehi.

Local youths staged a retaliation rally against the strike in Bhairahawa while women from Paklihawa took out a goodwill rally to maintain communal harmony. Morcha cadres took out a rally with sticks in Nawalparasi headquarters Parasi.

The rally started from Balgovind Petrol Pump and went around Parasi Bazaar before converging into a mass meeting in Buddhachowk.

Activists of the Joint Democratic Madhesi Morcha took out a funeral procession of top leaders of four major political parties.

Agitators carried the effigies of Prime Minister and NC President Sushil Koirala, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, along with Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Democratic Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and took out their funeral procession around Birgunj.

The indefinite strike has hit normal life hard in Rautahat. Disruption in transport services has adversely affected public movement along with factories, schools, industries and market places.

Condolence meet

RAJBIRAJ: A condolence meeting was held on Friday for Rajiv Kumar Raut, killed during clash with police in Bhardaha, Saptari, on August 10.

Speaking at the meeting, Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav said their agitation would be decisive.

Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahanta Thakur said protests were natural in a democracy.

Thakur accused the state of suppressing their agitation. Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato warned of continuing with the struggle unless the past agreements were executed.