Karan Singh Thakuri, 23-year-old motorcyclist, also succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital after agitators pelted him with rocks on the Nepalgunj-Kohalpur road section in Banke district.
Agitators had attacked Thakuri, a local of Naubasta-2, at Piprahawa Chowk of Ganapur for allegedly riding his motorbike in defiance of the banda. Binod Shahi, a pillion rider, was also seriously injured in the attack, according to SP Basanta Pant.With the death of the policeman in Bardiya and the motorcyclist in Banke, a total of 25 people, including nine security personnel, have been killed since August 8 in different parts of the country during protests staged against the proposed demarcation of federal provinces.
According to DIG Keshav Adhikari, chief of the Regional Police Office, a clash between police and protesters had erupted after the former tried to stop the latter from vandalizing some buses. "We opened fire in the air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protestors," he added.
Issuing a press release, the Home Ministry on Friday confirmed that protesters had shot Head Constable Pandey. He sustained bullet injuries to the legs and breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital.
Meanwhile, police arrested three suspects -- Naresh Tharu, 19, of Mainapokhar-8; 19-year-old Abinash Tharu; and Ram Marath Tharu, 55, - involved in killing the police constable in Bardiya.
Likewise, 24 banda enforcers involved in attacking the motorcyclist have been taken into police custody for further investigations.
Kin of deceased protesters agree to receive bodies in Birgunj
Family members of five protestors who were killed in police firing have become ready to receive the bodies for cremation after a meeting of the district security committee Friday decided to recommend the deceased to the Home Ministry for declaration as martyrs. The families had been refusing to receive the bodies for the last three days, putting forth various demands.
According to agitating leaders, they will hold a funeral procession in Birgunj following postmortems of the deceased.
The curfew order imposed in Birgunj since Monday following the death of agitators, was lifted for three hours from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m..
Janakpur protest turns peaceful again: CDO
Protests in Janakpur of Dhanusha district that had earlier turned violent have become peaceful since the last two days, according to CDO Kali Prasad Parajuli.
Although locals and cadres of the agitating parties staged demonstrations brandishing bamboo sticks on Friday, CDO Parajuli confirmed that the protests remained calm. As per the CDO's instructiona, government offices have resumed operations.
Three days ago, the local administration had also issued a prohibitory order in parts of Janakpur following a clash between agitators and the police.
An indefinite strike imposed by different groups in the Terai districts protesting against the new draft constitution and proposed provincial demarcations is still continuing, throwing daily life out of gear.
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