Birgunj, December 15

United Democratic Madhesi Front has accused the government authorities of indiscriminately detaining agitators in Birgunj, the centre of the Madhes agitation.

UDMF has particularly condemned the police act of detaining the agitators involved in peaceful agitation in Birgunj.

“As Birgunj is the centre of Madhes agitation, the administration has been indiscriminately arresting protesters,” said Pradip Yadav, Parsa district chairperson of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, a constituent of the front.

He also condemned the district administration for issuing direct and indirect threats to local leaders and cadres of the party and the front. “As the agitation is nearing success, the administration is randomly arresting our leaders and cadres without serving any warrant.

This is condemnable,” he added.

Meanwhile, police held 11 agitators staging a sit-in in front of the Birgunj’s dry port early this morning. Nepal Sadvawana Party central member Shiva Patel, Parsa Secretary Krishna Patel, Sadvawana Party central member Nijamuddhin Samani and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Parsa Vice-chairperson Jata Shankar Gupta were arrested from the sit-in venue at around 1:00 am and freed eight hours later.

Elsewhere in Bhairahawa too, police today detained two UDMF leaders for trying to block the Belahiya entry point.

Among those detained are Federal Socialist Forum Democratic Rupandehi district chairperson Mahendra Yadav and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party chairperson Ajaya Barma. Both are now in police custody.