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Employees in Siraha and Sarlahi, too, in agitation

Even as news of en masse resignation by over 400 employees of government offices and local bodies have hit the nation, employees of neighboring districts of eastern Terai – Sarlahi and Siraha – too are similarly agitated.

Protesting the uncontrolled rise of insecurity, extortion and targeted abductions/killings, Village Development Committee (VDC) secretaries based in Sarlahi district have warned of joint resignation from November 18 if their concerns are not addressed by then.

The meeting of VDC secretaries, on Wednesday, made this decision and informed the same to the district administration office.

The agitated VDC secretaries have claimed that four different Terai outfits have demanded Rs 5.8 million extortion from them – Rs 2.5 million by Samyukta Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, Rs 1.5 million each by JTMM Jwala and Goit factions, and Rs 300,000 by Nagraj group of Terai cobra. They have been asked to cough up the amount before Tihar.

Meanwhile, in Siraha, district-based employees of local bodies have been in agitation for the last one week.

They, too, have demanded security guarantee. They have complained that employees were being abducted and forced to pay hefty ransom by various groups.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also concluded that security situation in Siraha and Saptari districts are very fragile. nepalnews.com sd Nov 08 07