Damak, July 7:

Nine ethnic organisations today demanded that Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts be merged and turned into an autonomous state.

This demand was made at a press conference organised by the Purwanchal Tarai Adibasi Alliance (PTAA) in Damak.

The PTAA, a network of Rajbanshi, Tajpuriya, Tharu, Meche, Dhimal, Santhal, Gangai, Urau and Majhi communities, threatened to launch a revolt if an autonomous state was

declared, trampling on the rights of “the indigenous people” of the three districts.