Agitation continues unabated

Sunsari/Rautahat, November 21

With the United Democratic Madhesi Front’s agitation growing violent by the day, one more ambulance faced the ire of agitators in Sunsari and two-wheelers were vandalised at many places.

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In Duhabi of Sunsari, about two dozen UDMF cadres intercepted and attacked an ambulance heading towards Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health and Sciences.

Ambulance driver Ananda BK received head injury when the agitators attacked him with stones and vandalised the vehicle.

According to police, the vehicle was carrying a patient, who was being administered supplementary oxygen to BPKIHS for advanced medical care after City Hospital in Morang referred him there. While the patient was sent to BPKIHS in another vehicle, the injured driver was taken to a hospital in Biratnagar after the incident.

It is important to note that UDMF cadres had attacked an ambulance which was carrying a child from Rangeli in Morang to Biratnagar, at Katahari yesterday too.

In Duhabi itself, the agitating UDMF cadres today made a failed attempt to disrupt a harmony rally. Tension remained high for some time after agitators pelted stones at the rally. The rally was taken out with the initiative of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML to caution the ruling parties against splitting Morang district.

Police had to fire a few rounds of tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Police said five UDMF cadres were arrested after agitators started vandalising vehicles plying on the road and abusing passengers.

Meanwhile, in Birgunj, UDMF cadres staged demonstrations at different places from early morning today and vandalised two-wheelers. They burnt tyres and demonstrated at Maisthan, Murli, Nagawa, Bypass and Gandak, among other places and vandalised two motorbikes in Ghantaghar.

Today’s rampage comes just a day after front local leaders decided not to obstruct motorbikes, ambulances and other emergency vehicles, including those carrying medicine.

In Bara, a clash took place between UDMF cadres and police in the morning today. The clash broke out after police who meant to prepare a report about an unclaimed body near Lipanimal VDC office tried to douse a tyre burnt by agitators in a show of protest. A UDMF cadre was injured in the clash and the police vehicle suffered minor damage.

Elsewhere, a jeep used for a marriage ceremony was damaged in an attack by UDMF cadres on the Gaur-Chandranigahapur road section of Rautahat today morning. The jeep was vandalised and the newly-wed couple received minor injuries. Similarly, agitators also vandalised seven motorbikes in Gaur, Malahi, Samanpur, Garuda, Birta and other places in the district.

The front has banned even two-wheelers from plying since yesterday to intensify its agitation.