KATHMANDU: Tensions ran high in Duhabi of Sunsari on Saturday after cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) attacked a rally organised to promote social harmony.

Some civil society organisations had taken out a rally in the town demanding that the three districts of Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa district not be split while revising the existing demarcation of provinces.

Thousands of people had participated in the rally.

The UDMF cadres had hurled marble balls with catapults at police and participants of the rally.

Meanwhile, police arrested five UDMF cadres and opened blank fires to control the situation.

Extreme suppression from police, claims UDMF

The UDMF, however, claimed that security personnel extremely suppressed its peaceful protests in Sunsari today.

Issuing a press statement, the UDMF claimed the incident gave a rise to suspicions that the government was spoiling the talks by suppressing the peaceful demonstrations.

It demanded that the arrested cadres be released at the earliest.

(With inputs from the Rastriya Samachar Samiti)