"Army personnel have been deputed to avert further violence in the district in accordance to the local administration act," said CDO Kafle. Following the deaths, irate protestors had torched half a dozen police stations in the district on Wednesday, the DAO informed, adding that six police personnel were injured during the clashes.
Despite the curfew, protestors took to the streets on Thursday demanding legal investigations into the killings, compensation to the family of the deceased and declaring the deceased as martyrs. Families of the deceased have denied to receive the bodies. "Bodies of the deceased have been wrapped with plastics and kept at the mortuary," said Indradev Yadav, chief of District Health Office, Mahottari.
Three protestors were seriously injured during the clashes and were airlifted to the capital for treatment. Of them, Birendra Bichchha, who received bullets in his head, is undergoing treatment at the Norvic Hospital. While the other two, Sibendra Mahato of Pigauna and Santosh Sah of Jaleshwar, are receiving treatment at the Bir Hospital.
Locals and cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Party (UDMF) had staged violent demonstrations in Lahan following the death of a local in Bhardah of Saptari district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Dhanusha's district security committee has announced curfew in Janakpur from 6 am on Friday, Superintendent of Police Ganesh Bahadur Thapa informed. The decision was taken considering UDMF's plan to hold protests in the city by bringing a large mass of people from villages on Friday.
Areas along the East-West Highway from Koshi Barrage in Saptari to Balan Chowk in Siraha have been declared as riot-hit zones and Nepal Army personnel have been deputed there, Mithilesh Yadav, our correspondent in Siraha, reported.
Situation in Lahan remained tense on Thursday. Protestors vandalized various offices, including NCC Bank branch and Social Development Office. Police lobbed teargas shells and fired 25 shots in the air to disperse the demonstrators.
In Sarlahi, agitating UDMF cadres torched two police stations in Barahathwa on Thursday, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Kumar Khadka informed.
The day remained tense in Morang as well where around two hundred UDMF cadres clashed with police. Police lobbed six teargas shells to bring the situation under control, district police Spokesperson Pramod Kharel informed. Police arrested Jagdish Sah, an agitator during the demonstration.
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