Mahato was first taken to India, but due to profuse bleeding he was brought back to Biratnagar where he is being treated for injuries 

Biratnagar, December 26

United Democratic Madhesi Front that has continued its agitation against the constitution staged demonstrations at different places across the Tarai today, in which agitators, including Sadbhawana Party Chairperson Rajendra Mahato were injured in a clash with police at Biratnagar’s Jogbani entry point.

The Rupaidiha entry point was also obstructed due to the UDMF demonstration.

Besides Mahato, Sadbhawana Party central member Dilip Dhadewa and Spokesperson Santosh Mehata were also injured after police used force in a bid to remove them from the Jogbani entry point, where they had organised a sit-in.

According to party Assistant General Secretary Devendra Yadav, Mahato sustained many injuries in different parts of his body after police resorted to baton-charge. “After being injured, Mahato was taken to India, but later, due to profuse bleeding, he was brought to Biratnagar in an ambulance,” Yadav informed, adding that the injured leader is now undergoing treatment at Golden Hospital in Biratnagar.

Mahato and other leaders had crossed over to the Nepali side from India and held a sit-in at the Das Gazaa area near the Customs office.

Commenting on the clash, SP Tarini Prasad Lamsal of Morang district police office called it a normal incident. “There was a minor scuffle when we tried to remove them from the sit-in site in the Das Gaza area. Contrary to their statement that they would hold the programme at the Bus Park, a little away from the customs office, they chose to stage the sit-in at Das Gaza area, “ said the SP, adding police acted under obligation after the front cadres pelted stones at them and the customs office. He also informed that the situation was normal now.

Elsewhere, Nepalgunj’s Rupaidiya entry point was obstructed from early morning on account of the front’s demonstration and sit-in at the Das Gazaa area. Police have said except for 13 vehicles that entered prior to the sit-in, no other vehicle entered from Rapaidiya today. More than 100 cargo-loaded vehicles, which are on the Indian side of the border in Rupaidiya, are stranded there. Though the front cadres had tried to obstruct the entry point yesterday too, police had managed to chase them away.

In Parsa, UDMF cadres demonstrated by picketing the house of CPN-UML lawmaker Bichari Yadav’s in Prasauni Birta over eports that a meeting of the party was being convened in the house today. “Bichari Yadav and his party are acting against the Madhes and thwarting our attempts to ensure more rights for Madheshis in the constitution, hence the protest,” said Ramprit Yadav, a local UDMF leader.

Demonstrations were reported in Birgunj too, though the turnout at the sit-in was comparatively less today.

Federal Inclusive Madhesi Alliance-aligned Federal Inclusive Madhesi Youth Alliance, on the other hand, held a mass meeting at Maisthan today.

The alliance also staged demonstration in Sarlahi district headquarters Malangawa today. The demonstration started from the DDC chowk demanding the release of persons arrested during the Madhes agitation and an end to police oppression. The rally traversed through different parts of the town before returning to the same place and concluding in a corner meeting.