Pathlaiya, March 13:

More than six persons were injured when locals clashed with agitating Tharus in Jitpur of Bara district this afternoon. The clash ensued after the agitating group forcibly tried to close the markets.

The condition of one of the injured — Sohan Choudhary — is critical, according to Bara District Police Office. Choudhary is undergoing treatment in Birgunj.

Police charged batons and fired teargas shells to bring the situation under control. A furious mob torched two motorcycles and vandalised more than a dozen motorcycles, the police said. The agitators also vandalised more than a dozen of shops in Jitpur bazaar. They also vandalised a bus in Pathlaiya and also took an ambulance under their control.

Meanwhile, Bara District Administration Office

today issued curfew orders from 10 pm till 4 am tomorrow to bring the situation under control and facilitate the transportation of petroleum products. According to chief district officer Kailashnath Kharel, the curfew has been imposed from Gandak to Amlekhgunj in one kilometre radius of the East-West Highway.

Meanwhile, Nawalparasi DAO also imposed curfew on the East-West Highway to rescue the stranded passengers and ease the transportation of petroleum products. According to CDO Balkrishna Panthi, the curfew orders have been imposed from 8 pm till

8 am tomorrow along the highway — Gaidakot in the east to Jyamire of Rupandehi in the west.

According to our Sunsari correspondent, the bandh affected normal life in the district today as well. The agitators organised a motorcycle rally from Tarahara. They also organised a torch rally and held separate corner meets at Itahari, Khanar, Duhabi, Inaruwa and Jhumka. The agitators vandalised three motorcycles for defying the bandh.

Markets in Jhumka, Khanar and Duhabi were closed. The indefinite bandh has resulted in the shortage of daily commodities. Traders have started selling the essential commodities in blackmarket.

In Rupandehi, locals clashed with the agitators at Dhaidahi. The clash ensued after the agitators vandalised a motorcycle owned by R Mohammad, district treasurer of Nepal Red Cross Society. The agitators also vandalised a motorcycle on the Jaleswar-Bardibas section of the East-West Highway.

The bandh also affected normal life in Sarlahi district. Markets in Hariwan, Lalbandi, Nawalpur, Ranigunj, Karmaiya, Barathwa and district headquarters Malangawa were closed today.

Meanwhile, Chitwan DAO imposed curfew on one kilometre radius of the East-West Highway from 10 pm till 4 am tomorrow. The curfew orders have been imposed from Lothar to Ramnagar to facilitate transportation of petroleum products and essential commodities, CDO Ratnaraj Pandey said.

Curfew was also imposed on the East-West Highway and the adjoining area from 8 pm to 5 am in Dang so as to rescue the stranded passengers and prevent further loss of property and life.