Birgunj, January 16

The Agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front staged a stick rally in Birgunj, Parsa, today.

The front has been agitating in the plains for five months now.

According to the front’s constituent Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Parsa district spokesperson Salauddhin Ahamad, the rally was organised as per the front’s central programme in various districts that now fall under Province No 2.

The rally that started at about 1:00pm from Ghantaghar Chowk of Birgunj traversed through different parts of the city before concluding in a corner meeting at the chowk.

Parsa police chief SP Rajubabu Shrestha said his office had stepped-up security arrangements in view of the rally. “No untoward incident was reported as we had realised the need to boost security and did the needful,” said SP Shrestha.

Earlier, irked by frequent unfruitful talks with the government, the front had declared additional protest programmes scheduled from January 11 to 19.

Today’s stick rallies in Parsa, Saptari, Sarlahi, Rautahat and Sarlahi districts were organised as part of the programme. Meanwhile, today marked the 154th day of the UDMF agitation in relation to various demands, including provincial boundaries in the plains, and the 113th day of the blockade at the Birgunj-Raxaul entry point.