Damak, March 23:

The local administration of Jhapa restricted the Pallo Kirant Limbuwan Rastriya Manch (PKLRM) from organising a public programme today.

The administration had issued prohibitory orders in view with an anniversary programme planned by the Manch in Damak today. The Manch was preparing to announce the nine districts east of the Arun river as an autonomous Limbuwan State.

Large number of security personnel were deployed in Damak and adjoining highways and checkpoints to restrict the activities of the group, the police said.

The police also held 31 PKLRM cadres along with domestic weapons from a building in Damak. “We took action against the PKLRM cadres after we got orders from the local administration office,” Kamal Thapa, police inspector, said.

However, PKLRM stated that it had already announced the nine districts as a Limbuwan Independent State, claiming that a draft agreement letter to endorse the announcement had already been sent to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.

Meanwhile, General secretary of the group Shermahang Thakthumba accused the government of suppression. “Our campaign will not stop due to government’s suppression,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sanghiya Students’ Union (SSU), the student wing of the Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch, withdrew its protests today.