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Indefinite curfew in Biratnagar; Terai bandh enters day 7

The Morang District Administration clamped indefinite curfew in Biratnagar Sub-metropolitan City and surrounding areas from 11:00 am on Tuesday following violent clashes between protesters and the police.

Nearly a dozen people including five policemen were injured in a scuffle at Mahabir Chowk, Biratnagar, this morning when the cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) were staging a demonstration.

Biratnagar is Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s hometown.

Meanwhile, the local administration of Banke renewed curfew orders from 8:00 am in Nepalgunj after lifting it for a few hours in the morning. The DAO has the curfew will continue until further notice.

Meanwhile, the indefinite general strike called by the UDMF continued to hit normal life across Terai on the seventh day today.

Highways traversing the Terai districts remain virtually deserted as the result of the general strike. The bandh organisers staged angry demonstrations in Janakpur, Rajbiraj, Birgunj, Kalaiya and several other Terai towns. The UDMF cadres also set fire to the customs office located at Ghadiarwa, Birgunj, reports said.

Bazaars, industries and educational institutions remain largely closed in Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Mahottari, Siraha, Saptari, Sarlahi and Dhanusha. Districts like Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Rupandehi, Banke and Kapilvastu have been partially affected by the bandh.

The UDMF has said the bandh will continue unless the government fulfills its six demands including guarantee of ‘autonomous Terai province' with right to self-determination and implementation of the 22-point agreement signed earlier with the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, a partner of the three-party alliance. nepalnews.com mk Feb 19 08