Janakpurdham, July 21

Work to collect feedback on the draft constitution from the public was hit hard today in several districts in the plains due to a bandh called by Joint Democratic Madhesi Morcha. Terming draft constitution as anti-Madhesi, Madhesi Morcha had called two-day Tarai bandh to foil the feedback collection programme.

A clash broke out at Janakpur’s Janak Chowk and Janaki Chowk between the protesters and police. Police had to open two rounds of fire in the air to bring the situation under control. An all-party meeting held at DAO Dhanusha cancelled today’s feedback collection session after the agitators enforced the bandh from early morning and staged protest rallies in the district.

After the protest went out of control, police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the mob. As many as nine protesters were briefly held.

Agitators and police personnel exchanged stones and bricks near Janakpur’s Dewanpokhari. To make the bandh successful, protesters had descended on the street, burning the tyres and shouting slogan against the government and draft statute from early in the morning.

Feedback collection was affected at Siraha’s Constituency No 5 owing to general strike. Siraha CDO Man Bahadur BK , however, said public hearing could not take place due to absence of the CA members in Constituency No 5.

Despite Tarai shutdown, feedback collection concluded in all constituencies of Jhapa. Police arrested three cadres of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal for their involvement in vandalising a passenger bus.

Feedback collection was canceled after Madhes-based parties’ cadres staged protest at all Rautahat constituencies, except Constituencies No 3 and 6.

Transportation service was disrupted along Gaur-Chandrapur road section due to general strike.

Bara and Parsa bore the brunt of bandh. The work to collect feedback, however, went ahead at Bara’s Constituencies No 4, 5 and 6. A clash broke out at Lipnimal collection centre in Constituency No 4 after a team led by Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Joint-General Secretary Jitendra Sonal tried to disrupt the programme.

Police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the mob. Protesters had vandalised more than 10 vehicles there.