Birgunj, May 25 :

Birgunj bazar remained shut today while rallies were held to protest against declaration of Nepal as a secular state. Protesters also demanded immediate declaration of Nepal as a Hindu state.

Rallies participated in by activists and representatives of several Hindu organisations went around various thoroughfares of the city and converged into a mass meet at Rangashala.

Various persons including chairperson of the Shiva Sena Nepal, Arun Subedi, addressed the mass meet.

Meanwhile, protesters beat proprietor of Dajubhai Travels, Binod Shrestha, at Laxamanwa chowk this morning and vandalized a bus on the charge of violating the general strike.

Bus entrepreneurs later disrupted traffic throughout the day by parking their vehicles on the streets.

Some agitators vandalised Nepali Congress Parsa district office at Maisthan. The seven party alliance condemned the attack.

A report from Bara said demonstrations were held against the declaration of secular state in Kalaiya and Pipradi.