UDMF to accept bodies of protesters

Morang, January 24

With the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front and the security personnel reaching a five-point agreement today, cadres of the disgruntled front agreed to accept the bodies of three persons killed in police firing in Rangeli and Dainiya of Morang on January 21.

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The administration agreed to provide Rs 25,000 each to the families for the final rites of their dead relatives. “As the family of the deceased are from poor financial background, we have agreed to provide the amount,” informed District Administration Office, Morang.

Chief District Officer Toyam Ray said they signed a five-point agreement during an all-party meeting. “We will provide expenses for the final rites of the dead in the first phase,” said CDO Ray.

The families of the deceased have also demanded compensation, free treatment for the injured and a high-level probe panel to investigate the incident.

They have also agreed to create conducive atmosphere for the return of people who fled Rangeli due to fear.

The district administration has agreed to inform the Ministry of Home Affairs about the demands of the protesters.

Post mortem of the bodies, which were kept at Koshi Zonal Hospital, was conducted after the agreement on Sunday.

Morang chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Raj Kumar Yadav, however, said that they would receive the bodies only on Monday.

“The government and the CPN-UML are responsible for the incident, Hence, they have to admit their guilt.

We will also announce fresh protest programmes after conducting the final rites of the dead,” he said.

Three persons were killed in police firing when the agitating front’s cadres clashed with the CPN-UML sister wing Youth Association’s activists at a function organised in the district on Thursday.

Draupatidevi Chaudhary, 58, of Rangeli and Mahadev Rishidev, 45, of Baranga-2 died in Rangeli whereas Shivu Majhi, 25, of Dainiya died in police firing at Dainiya.

Sixteen others were injured in the incident and have been receiving treatment at various health facilities.