Birgunj, February 15, 2008

Seven persons, including APF constable Rupak Silwal, were injured on the third day of the indefinite Madhes bandh called by the Sanyukt Madhesi Morcha as agitators clashed repeatedly with the police near Bus Park along Bypass Road of Birgunj in Parsa district.

Police fired six rounds in the air and 15 teargas shells to control the mob. The agitators started pelting stones at a police contingent that was on duty near Bypass Road and also hurled 10 petrol bombs at the police.

Educational, trading concerns and industries, bazaars remained closed. Work at the Birgunj customs check point remained stalled causing a loss of more that Rs 1 crore. Agitators burnt tyres at main chowks of Birgunj. In Rupandehi district, prohibitory order was given in different parts of Bhairahawa town with orders that more than five persons cannot assemble but local youths defied the curfew while thousands of students staged an anti-bandh rally from Buddha Chowk. Tension prevailed in Bhairahawa and police arrested eight persons including four agitators. The anti-bandh students also torched an effigy of Mahanta Thakur.

At Bishanpur Chowk on the East-West Highway in Saptari district, agitators pelted stones at a police van. Poilce had to fire five rounds in the air, said superintendent of Saptari police Bikram Singh Thapa.

In Biratnagar of Morang district, police prevented agitators from torching one Bauwwa Jha’s motorcyle at Shesh Road Chowk.

11 killed, 25 hurt in jeep mishap

Palpa, February 15, 2008

Eleven persons were killed and 25 others were hurt when an overcrowded jeep (Lu 1 Ja 552) heading to Tamghas from Kharjyang of Gulmi met with an accident at Gaurikhutta of Daudha VDC in Gulmi district at 10 am today.

Nine passengers were killed instantly, while two others died while undergoing treatment in Tansen-based Mission Hospital, the Gulmi District Police Office said, adding, the site lies some 40 kilometers south from Tamghas, the headquarters of Gulmi district. Nine persons, including Dev Bahadur Gyawali, Phars Bahadur Ghartimagar, Ram Prasad Ghimire, Khim Bahadur Sunar of Daudha; driver Shiv Pandey of Kerunga of Arghakhanchi district, Narbada Bhandari of Gulmi, Krishna Prasad Shrestha of Hastichaur, Dhunda Bahadur Palinge of Kharjyang and Liladhar Khanal of Gulmi, died on the spot, while two passengers Govinda Giri of Agaha and Bal Bahadur Darjee of Kharjyang of Gulmi died in the course of treatment, police said.

The injured including Sirjana Rana, Ganesh Shrestha, Ishwori Gyawali, Chitamani Gyawali, Tara Thapa, Ambika Bhandari, Ram Bahadur Gyawali, Anita Gaha, Bishnu Bahadur Pariyar, Govinda Ghimire and one unidentified person have been undergoing treatment in Mission Hospital, police said.