Gaighat, February 22:

Some 200 locals padlocked the Triyuga municipality office today, accusing the citizenship certificate distribution team of denying them citizenship papers.

The locals forced the employees out of the office building and padlocked the main gate.

The locals, mostly of the Tarai origin, have also formed a seven-member struggle committee to continue their protest programmes.

The citizenship certificate distribution team, meanwhile, halted the works of citizenship certificate distribution for two days due to a massive rise in the number of applicants. Meanwhile, the Udaypur District Administration Office (DAO) is reeling under a shortage of passport cards since yesterday.