JANAKPUR, Feb 1: Madhesi demonstrators who had remained inactive in Janakpur with the first amendment of the new constitution have turned unruly under the pretext of disrupting the Nepali Congress conventions.
Local demonstrators of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) and Federal Inclusive Madhesi Alliance (FIMA) on Monday resorted to arson and vandalism at the residences of NC parliamentarians in Janakpur, the district headquarters of Dhanusha.
Aggressive demonstrators torched the house of NC parliamentarian Bimalendra Nidhi, located at the Mills Area. A motorbike with registration number Ja 3 Pa 9438, which was parked on the residence premises, was burnt into ashes during the incident.
Kiran Nidhi, wife of NC leader Nidhi’s brother, sustained minor injuries from stones pelted by the demonstrators on the house. Her arms sustained injuries.
She told Republica that she is neither affiliated to any political party nor the protestors but had to suffer uselessly. “As we are not safe in our own homes, where should we live?” she questioned. She urged the local administration to arrange security for their lives and property.
Likewise, local demonstrators also pelted stones at the houses of NC parliamentarians Anand Prasad Dhungana and Ramkrishna Yadav at Bhanu Chowk and Lila Koirala’s house at Brahampuri at around noon.
Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nakul Pokharel, who is also the spokesperson of the District Police Office (DPO), Dhanusha, informed that four police personnel were injured by stomes pelted by the protesters. Among them, police head constable Pitambar Ray and constable Shivdayal Mahato had their fingers fractured.
Earlier on Sunday, four police were also injured in the scuffle in front of NC leader Koirala’s house.
DSP Pokhrel said that security was beefed up keeping in mind of the recent move of the agitating Madhesi demonstrators.
“Protest has its limits. What sort of protest is it to drive our families from their own homes?” DSP Pokharel questioned. According to him, demonstrators have turned aggressive since the last two days.
However, UDMF’s Dhanusha district coordinator, Sanjay Singh, has termed the incidents of vandalism and arson at NC leaders’ houses as a natural reaction of the demonstrators. “We’ve already urged the signatory-party leaders of the constitution not to enter Madhes during the protests. If they start doing the activities that annoy protestors, it is natural for them to turn aggressive.”
Komalkant Jha, district secretary of NC, said that the agitating parties’ activities have failed to culture.
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