Rautahat, September 13

It’s been almost a month since the United Democratic Madhesi Front enforced indefinite general strike in the Tarai against the draft of the new constitution and there is no end in sight to the unrest in the plains.

Protesters clashed with security forces after defying curfew clamped at Gaur Municipality by Rautahat District Administration and continued their demonstration at Kabir chowk.

Three protesters were injured when the police opened fired at them. The injured have been identified as Sesh Mairuddin, Lalbabu Patel and Chandreswor Baitha. Condition of Mairuddin and Patel is said to be critical. Both are being treated at Narayani Sub-regional Hospital, Birgunj.

UDMF and National Muslim Struggle Alliance had planned to stage a huge rally at Gaur Municipality.

To avert any untoward incident, Rautahat DAO had clamped curfew from 12 noon to 7:00pm today. But hundreds of people defied the curfew and police had to fire tear gas shells to bring the situation under control, said DSP Sudhir Raj Shahi.

Tarai Madhes Democratic Party district leader Anil Singh accused the police of opening fire at the agitators to suppress a peaceful agitation.

In Birgunj, UDMF cadres vandalised the Ncell office at Main Road in Mahabir when DAO lifted the curfew from 9:00am to 1:00pm. After the incident, a large number of police and APF personnel were mobilised in the area to avert any untoward incident.

In Siraha, an APF constable, Bipin Rai, was injured when protesters fired at APF personnel, who were removing tree trunks kept on the road to obstruct traffic in Mirchaiya area.

In Saptari, a clash broke out between protesters and police personnel in Rupani bazaar. Police had to fire tear gas shells to contain the mob. Police have arrested five leaders and cadres of UDMF. Meanwhile, UDMF cadres vandalised and torched the Nepali Congress office in Rajbiraj, Saptari.

Madhesi Journalists’ Union and Madhesi Journalists’ Society also staged a rally expressing their solidarity with the agitation in Rajbiraj today.