Kathmandu, August 9:

Ten activists of the Chure Bhawar Ekata Samaj (CBES) — including its president Keshav Mainali and secretary Badri Neupane — were arrested from Gaushala this morning while they were organising a chakkajam there. Three activists — including the vice-president of the Samaj Babu Thapa — were also injured when police baton-charged the mob.

Thapa is undergoing treatment in a hospital.

Mainali said the Samaj was organising the chakkajam to press its demand that two of its members killed by “terrorist” groups of the Tarai be declared martyrs and they be given national honour.

Mohan Gautam of Saptari and Prakash Subedi of Birgunj were recently killed by separate armed groups in the Tarai.

In Sarlahi, CBES cadres obstructed the East-West Highway since morning today.

They were also protesting against the murder of the two CBES men.

They blocked the Karmaiya, Nayaroad, Hariwan sections of the highway and also burnt tyres on the road.

CBES central member Ishwor Karki said the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha-Jwala Singh killed Gautam on August 5, while the JTMM-Visfot killed Subedi on August 7. The CBES, in a statement issued in Sarlahi, demanded compensation for the victims’ family and that Gautam and Subedi be declared martyrs. It also demanded that the JTMM-J be declared a terrorist organisation. A report from Mahottari said CBES cadres blocked the Mahottari-Bardibas section of Mahendra Highway. Hundreds of passengers were stranded due to the blockade.