Itahari, January 7:

Protesting the exorbitant fare and discontinuation of boat services on Saptakoshi river without

prior notice, passengers today clashed with boat operators in Haripur of Sunsari district.

“Six persons were injured,” police said, adding, “Seventeen persons were arrested on the charge of involving in the clash.”

“The situation in Haripur was tense today. We could bring the situation under control only after mobilising a large number of security personnel,” DSP Bidyananda Majhi at the District Police Office, Sunsari, said.

The clash has also brought the ongoing construction works in the Sapta Koshi river to a standstill.

Earlier, the Koshi flood victims’ struggle committee had indefinitely closed the boat service demanding that their 13-point demands be fulfilled. The closure affected the service of 40 boats, leaving more than 2,000 passengers stranded.

Though Sunsari chief district officer Durga Prasad Bhattarai claimed that the boat services had resumed, the boats were yet to be operational till this evening.

“The boats are available only for patients, mediapersons and health personnel,” Tulsi Yadav, spokesperson of the struggle committee, said.

President of the struggle committee Pancha Narayan Mandal said the protest would continue till their demands were addressed.

Mandal also warned that they would disrupt vehicular movement along the East-West Highway

from tomorrow if their demands were not addressed.

CDO Bhandari said a ministry-level task force had been formed under the coordination of assistant Sunsari CDO to address the demands.