UPDATE II

RAJBIRAJ: United Democratic Madhesi Front claimed that four persons were killed in the police firing in Saptari on Monday. Police administration, on the other hand, put the casualty at one only.

The UDMF’s Saptari leaders said Ranjan Mehta, Digambar Yadav, Pitambar Mandal and Ananda Saha lost their life in police action when the UDMF cadres clashed with security personnel outside the venue of CPN-UML’s mass assembly at Maleth VDC outside Rajbiraj.

In the wake of fatal incident in Saptari, an emergency meeting of the CPN-UML decided to put off the party’s ongoing Mechi-Mahakali campaign for three days.

The UDMF has called an indefinite strike in Saptari, according to the UDMF’s Saptari coordinator Dinesh Kumar Yadav.

UPDATE I

One dead in police firing as UDMF tries to disrupt UML function

RAJBIRAJ: The United Democratic Madhesi Front identified the person who died in police firing at Maleth VDC of  Saptari district as Ranjan Mehta, a local resident. He is said to be in his 20s.

Security personnel resorted to firing as UDMF cadres did not retreat even after lathi charge and use of tear gas shells from outside the mass assembly of CPN-UML that they tried to disrupt.

The UDMF has claimed one person was killed. But it is yet to be verified.

Several people were injured in police action.

Seven of them, who were hit by bullets were taken to the Rajbiraj-based Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital, have been referred to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for treatment.

At least three police personnel also were hurt after they were hit by stones that the UDMF cadres threw at them.

RAJBIRAJ: At least one person died and over a dozen others have been injured in police action after the cadres of United Democratic Madhesi Front tried to disrupt the CPN-UML's mass meeting at Maleth VDC, near Rajbiraj, in Saptari district on Monday.

Police lobbed tear gas shells and opened fire in order to disperse the unruly UDMF cadres who encircled the programme venue and allegedly tried to attack the participants of CPN-UML's Mechi-Mahakali campaign in the district.

The UDMF claimed that the deceased is one of its supporters. But police are yet to verify the casualty.

Amid low participation of local party cadres and supporters due to the UDMF's demonstration and disruption, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli addressed the mass meeting.

The alliance of Madhesi parties, UDMF had imposed a general strike in the district to disrupt the main opposition party's programme as a part of its Mechi-Mahakali campaign.

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