JANAKPURDHAM: Police on Friday arrested CK Raut, who has been reportedly demanding secession of the Madhes region from Nepal, and his 16 cadres during a protest in Janakpurdham today.

The detainees, however, were released after around three hours.

Raut's supporters had staged nationwide demonstrations today against what they called discriminatory and racist policies of the state.

DSP Manoj Yadav of the Dhanusha District Police Office said they were arrested from local Shiva Chok at around 3 pm and released later in the evening.

Meanwhile, tension ran high in Janakpurdham this afternoon for around an hour after Raut's supporters clashed with police during the arrest.

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• 30 CK Raut supporters detained in Rautahat