Death of 3 persons sparks fierce protests in Saptari, Siraha

RAJBIRAJ/LAHAN, Nov 23 : Following the death of three persons in police firing in Saptari on Saturday and Sunday, Rajbiraj and Lahan of Siraha district remained tense on Monday. Protesters, defying the curfew order, continued their demonstrations in the district headquarters

Rajbiraj for the second consecutive day.
The situation took a nasty turn on Monday as well after demonstrators and police clashed with each other.

The services at Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital halted by its administration after police thrashed doctors and staff there on Sunday is yet to be resumed. As a result, the hospital, which was always overcrowded with patients, wore a deserted look on Monday.
Besides the district headquarters, the section of the East-West Highway in the district also remained tense after local protesters continued pelting stones at buses and vehicles plying along the highway on Monday morning.
Irate locals had also torched two motorbikes (Ba 62 Pa 4162 and Ko 3 Pa 3116). As per the eyewitnesses, locals had beaten up a policeman in a plain dress. But district police office has not yet verified the incident.
Meanwhile, Armed Police Force (APF) SP Janak Bohara, who is also chief of Dantakali Barrack based in Baramajhiya, had held consultations with locals before the transportation along the highway was resumed.
Demonstrators had allowed the buses and vehicles to pass after the APF agreed not to escort vehicles other than those already stranded in the district.
Dilip Sah, 35, of Rajbiraj Municipality-1, who was in the second floor of his apartment had received bullet in his head after police opened fire during demonstrations at the district headquarters Rajbiraj. He breathed his last on the way to Dharan for treatment. His daughter also sustained bullet injury in the incident.
On Saturday night, two persons--Birendra Ram of Dadha VDC and Nageshwar Yadav of Chhapaki VDC--were killed in the police firing along the East-West Highway in Bhardaha and Rupani, respectively, when the local demonstrators tried to obstruct the transportation services.

Siraha UDMF coordinator injured in clash with police
Following the Saptari incident, local demonstrators and cadres of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) protested against the police oppression in Lahan of Siraha district.
The situation turned tense after the police chased protesters who were demonstrating in front of the Area Police Office of Lahan. The protesters had pelted stones at the police. UDMF coordinator for Siraha Krishna Bahadur Yadav was injured in the head in the clash.