Dhankuta, January 17

Agitating Dhankuta residents today padlocked the Eastern Regional Administration Office to press with their longstanding demand that Dhankuta be made the capital of Province 1.

Provincial assembly members Niran Rai and Indramani Parajuli led a group of agitators to the ERAO and padlocked the office. Hundreds of agitators have staged sit-in in front of the office.

A clash also erupted between demonstrators and security personnel after the strikers tried to break through the security barricade at the main gate of the office.  The demonstrators chanted slogans against ERAO Chief Rajeshwor Man Singh. Residents of Dhankuta have been agitating for the past 33 days.

Shops in the bazaar areas, education institutions, financial institutions and industries have remained closed. Vehicular movement along the Koshi Highway was disrupted since early morning today. Passengers heading to Shankuwashabha, Bhojpur and Tehrathum via Dhankuta have been stranded on the highway.