Nepal

More than 24 agitators injured

More than 24 agitators injured

By Himalayan News Service

Protesters confronting the security cordon during their protest at the gate of District Development Committee, in Khalanga, nJajarkot, on Thursday. They have been protesting against merger of the district with the far-west. Photo:THT

JAJARJOT,  August 13 More than two dozen people were injured when supporters of the intact mid-west campaign clashed with police here on Thursday. The clash occurred when the agitators, who were enforcing the closure of government offices in district headquarters Khalanga on the fourth day of the agitation entered the District Development Committee office and tried to breach the security cordon there. Besides seeking the region as an undivided territory under the new federal set-up, the agitators have sought Surkhet as headquarters of the to-be formed state. Two dozen-plus agitators were injured when security personnel rained batons on the agitators and a stampede ensued. Offices like DDC office, district education office, district revenue office and land office have been damaged due to the rampaging protesters who vandalised government property. Among the seriously injured are: Patrika Pun and Deepak Khatri. They are undergoing treatment at the district hospital. Two others by the names of Niraj Shahi and Kriti Pun are also learnt to be receiving treatment at some other medical facility. According to Jajarkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Kaman Bahadur Khadka, also a member of the agitation mobilisation committee, the condition of others who were injured is not serious, He slammed the police intervention in their ‘peaceful agitation’ and pledged to beef up the protest in future.