One dies for want of treatment; 14 held, hundreds of passengers stranded

Biratnagar, December 12:

Life was affected in the eastern region today due to the Limbuwan Region Bandh called by the Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC).

A 20-year-old student, Arjun Dahal, of Syabun-9 Sankhuwasabha, died while he was being taken to Dharan in a rickshaw for treatment, a report from Itahari quoted the Area Police Office as saying. He was ferried in a rickshaw as other means of transport stayed off the road due to the Limbuwan region bandh.

At least 14 demonstrators were arrested following scuffles with policemen at different places of the region. Demanding a ‘federal state’, the FLSC had called a bandh in nine districts of the eastern region—Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Jhapa, Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Morang, Dhankuta and Sunsari - today.

Demonstrators torched a motorcycle at Birtamod in Jhapa, the District Police Office said, adding that they also vandalised two buses and a truck.

Demonstrators pelted stones and damaged a jeep belonging to the Area Police Office Birtamod.

Eight demonstrators were arrested from Birtamod. In Morang, demonstrators affiliated to the FLSC vandalised the Area Administration Office (AAO), the Nepal Telecom Office, Area Postal Office and hotels, sub-inspector of the Area Police Office, Urlabari Buddhi Man Limbu, said. Six persons involved in vandalism were held, police said. Chief of the AAO Urlabari Bhim Raj Pokharel said a group of youths threw stones at the office.

The bandh affected life in the Biratnagar bazaar as well. The bandh brought life came to a halt in Sunsari, Damak and Birtamod of Jhapa, Ilam, Tehrathum, Taplejung and Dhankuta.

Two persons, who were among those taking part in demonstrations in Itahari and Dulari of Sunsari, were injured in clashes with police. Five vehicles were vandalised. Telephone service and power supply in Dulari area were disrupted as demonstrators resorted to vandalism.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded as vehicles did not ply. Hile, Bhedetar, Dandabazaar, Rajarani, Pakhribas and Sindhuka bazaars remained closed.