Rautahat, April 24:

Pro-democracy demonstrations continued across the nation for the 19th consecutive day today.

Agitators staged a rally and burnt an effigy of autocracy despite security forces’ intervention at Gaur, the district headquarters of Rautahat.

In Kalaiya of Bara, civil servants staged a rally chanting pro-democracy slogans and demanding the release of government employees arrested for taking part in protests. In Simra, teachers staged a rally and gave street lectures on democracy. In Birgunj, agitators vandalised at least six vehicles heading for the capital.

In Sarlahi, ward chairperson of Malangawa municipality-5 Aezul Miya resigned his post expressing solidarity with the movement for democracy.

In Janakpur, staff of various organisations staged a rally. The agitators blackened the face of the ward chairman of Janakpur municipality-10, Ram Chandra Thakur, and led him around the city.

In Dhading, civil society organisations submitted a memorandum to the local administration to lift the prohibitory orders against holding demonstrations. Thousands of women staged a rally defying prohibitory orders in Dhadingbesi.

In Taplejung, professionals including civil servants, teachers, businessmen, students and women staged a demonstration. In Dhankuta, staff of the Dhankuta municipality staged a sit-in for four hours.

In Charikot, agitators burnt an effigy of autocracy. They also launched a sanitation drive in the city.

In Baglung, 50,000 people defied prohibitory orders and took to the streets at the call

of businessmen. The rally was called to protest police firing at businessman Govinda Prasad Sharma during a demonstration. Meanwhile, the local administration released four agitators who were detained during demonstrations a few days ago.

In Tanahun, over 40,000 people participated in a demonstration at Khairenighat.

In Pokhara, civil servants and bank staff also took part in a rally and mass meeting staged by the agitating seven parties.

In Bhairahawa, thousands of people joined a rally called by various religious organisations and the Lumbini Construction Entrepreneurs’ Association. In Butwal, former security personnel staged a rally. PAPAD staged a rally in Tansen. The seven parties also staged a demonstration in the city.

In Nawalparasi, the seven agitating parties and Maoists staged a joint mass meeting at Daldale bazaar. Thousands of people attended it. The meeting marked the 13th day of the death of Bishnu Pandey, the district’s first “martyr” in the current movement. Various leaders, including the Maoist district secretary Prakash Pandey addressed the assembly.