Rajbiraj, November 9:

With government offices closed for the past 10 days, 23 Muslims of Saptari district are in danger of being deprived of the chance to go on their Hajj pilgrimage. While banks and government offices are closed, the pilgrims are yet to get their passports.

Government offices in Saptari are closed ever since the murder of DDC employee Prabhu Narayan Yadav 10 days ago by an unknown gang. The government employees are demanding that Yadav be declared a martyr and his killers be punished. They have put up a seven-point charter of demands.

Muslim Manch Saptari chairman Mohammed Ibrahim said the process of acquiring the passports and arrangements for going on the Hajj have to be told to the central Hajj committee by Sunday. With Tihar holidays till Sunday, the chance of pilgrims getting the passports has also become negligible, he added.