Rautahat, February 23:

Maoist cadres and the activists of the Jay Krishna Goit-led Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha JTMM) clashed today when the former tried to open shops at Sarmujawa bazaar in Rautahat district. The shops were closed on the third day of the Tarai bandh called by the JTMM.

The clash erupted after Maoist cadres tried to force shopkeepers to open their shops at Saramujawa bazaar and the shopkeepers refused, locals said. In the clash, six persons, including two local shopkeepers, were injured. MJF activists and shopkeepers retaliated against Maoist cadres who had come carrying batons. The injured were taken to a local health post for treatment, a local Shiv Mangal Shah said.

“We have got information of the clash, but details are still awaited,” said DSP Ram Kumar Khanal at the Rautahat district police office (DPO).

However, Maoist former Rautahat district people’s government chief Bindeshwor Roy Shah said over the telephone it was not a clash but only a dispute. Meanwhile, life remained crippled due to the JTMM-called bandh in Rautahat. No vehicle on short or long routes plied in the district. Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at different places.

A report from Siraha said academic institutions and business centres remain closed while vehicles stayed off the road. However, ambulances, press vehicles and vehicles carrying marriage parties plied on Mahendra Highway.

In Bara, too, shops and academic institutions remain closed. The bandh also affected life partially in Sarlahi, Sunsari and Saptari, among other Tarai districts, our correspondents reported.