Itahari, February 20:

Five persons, including women, were injured today in a clash between the agitating Saptakoshi flood victims and police in different parts of Sunsari. The agitators obstructed Inaruwa-Paschim Kusaha section of the road and clashed with police at Laukahi, Nahar Chowk of Paschim Kusaha and Shiva Chowk. The areas remained tense throughout the day. The flood victims have been demanding the government meet their 13-point demand.

Some 400 flood victims clashed with police when the latter intervened after the agitators tried to obstruct the reconstruction of the eastern embankment of the Koshi at Paschim Kusaha, said Pancha Narayan Mandal, chairman of the Koshi Victims’ Struggle Committee.

“The police rained batons as the victims lied down on the construction site. The injured are being treated at different clinics in Inaruwa and Laukahi,” he added.

The reconstruction work resumed after a large number of security personnel were mobilised to disperse the crowd. District Police Office, Sunsari, said it had to use force for about half an hour after the agitators ignored their requests not to obstruct the reconstruction.

Earlier, the agitators clashed with the police at Laukahi camp area, Nahar Chowk and Shiva Chowk till noon. Three agitators were hurt when the police used force, Mandal said, adding that the police used force on Thursday night too. “A school kid was injured last night and he is undergoing treatment in Inaruwa,” he added.

The flood victims accused the administration of responding them with bullets and batons while they were asking for food and shelter. Mandal claimed that two of the persons in Thursday’s melee were injured when police opened fire on them. Both of them are undergoing treatment in Dharan based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

Meanwhile, Sunsari CDO Durga Bhandary said the police used force just to control any untoward activity.

Meanwhile, the CDO called an all-party meeting in his office over the issue.

In the meeting, political party representatives criticised the administration for using force against the demonstrations.

Over 36,000 residents of Sunsari’s four VDCs were displaced by Koshi floods. The flood victims are agitating with their 13-point demand that include appropriate rehabilitation, compensation, land, employment and writing off of loans.