JANAKAPURDHAM: Over two dozen protesters were injured when security personnel used force during demonstration staged by Madhesi parties at Bhanu Chowk here in Janakpur on Tuesday.

Police resorted to lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters as they entered the prohibited zone. At least 26 people were injured in the police action.

The local administration had declared certain areas – from Bhanu Chowk to Railway Station, from Kadam Chowk to Murali Chowk via Parikrama Road, from Utimpur to District Treasury Controller Officer, from Ganga Sagar to the District Court – prohibited zones from 1 pm this afternoon.

Superintendent of Police Ganesh Thapa at the Dhanusha District Police Office said that 20 tear gas shells were used to contain the situation.

Amaresh Narayan Jha, a central member of the Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal, accused police of brutal suppression. He claimed that police barged into local residents' houses and thrashed them black and blue.

Meanwhile, government employees also staged demonstration in Janakpur this morning, boycotting functions organised to mark the the Civil Service Day.

Local women took out a rally carrying brooms from Khairaba Chowk. Cadres of CPN-UML also demonstrated demanding that rights to the Madhesi people should be ensured in the new constitution.

Cadres and supporters of UCPN-Maoist also staged a rally in Jaleshwar.