The activists and leaders from 12 political parties in the district, who were protesting against financial irregularities and corruption in the District Development Committee (DDC), were baton-charged by the police as they tried to padlock the committee´s office. [break]
The agitators, numbering around 50, clashed with the police at the gate of DDC. Many protesters fell unconscious due to the blow of the baton.
Accoring to Ganesh Sah of Nepali Janata Dal, Jageshwor Raya of Federal Sadbhawana Party, Digambar Yadav of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Kusheshwar Sah of Dalit Janajati Party and Gulab Yadav of Nepali Janata Dal, among others, were injured in the clash.
The injured have been undergoing treatment in the Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital. The conditions of Digambar Yadav, Jageshwor Raya, Gulab Yadav and Kisheshwar Sah are said to be critical.
The police also arrested and later released Niraj Mukti, the central member of Madhesi Youth Forum (Demoratic).
The police said that they resorted to baton-charging to keep the situation from spinning out of control.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganesh Bahadur Thapa, the agitators refused to settle the problem through dialogue and were hell-bent on padlocking DDC office.
After the news of Rs 38 crores in arrears at DDC was reported in the media, the political parties last week announced to launch phase wise protests. On Wednesday, they had submitted a memorandum to the Chief District Officer, demanding probe into the irregularities and corruption at the DDC.
The political party activists had also organized symbolic sit-in at the DDC on Friday.
Meanwhile, after the incident of baton-charging, the political parties organized a meeting at Janaandolan Chowk to condemn the police atrocities. The local politicians blamed the administration of trying to shield the corrupt staff of the DDC. The agitators have vowed to intensify their protests.
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