DANG, April 29: Cadres of the agitating Joint Tharuhat Struggle Committee (JTSC) set fire to nine VDC offices in Dang and Kailali districts during curfew hours on Tuesday night. [break]
The Tharu agitators went berserk after police arrested Laxman Tharu, the coordinator of the JTSC, after he addressed a corner meet at Baneshwor in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.
The agitators set ablaze the buildings of Lalmatiya, Sonpur, Sisahaniya, Gangaparaspur, Gadhawa and Bela VDCs along the Bhaluwang-Lamahi section of the East-West Highway.
Irate Tharu cadres also vandalized and set fire to the offices of the Family Planning Association and the Area Postal Office in the district, according to DSP Tika Ram Senjwal at District Police Office, Dang.
The arson carried out at around 10 pm left furniture and documents of the offices completely destroyed. Local police and a fire brigade doused the fire on Wednesday morning.
Likewise, agitating Tharu activists set ablaze three VDC offices in Kailali district the same night. The offices of Masuriya, Dugauli and Bouniya VDCs were torched, according to sub-inspector Tul Bahadur Bista at District Police Office, Kailali. The Tharu activists have already set ablaze 10 VDC offices in Kailali district in the last one week alone.
Earlier on Saturday, the agitators set fire to Joshipur, Thapapur, Dododhara, Ramshikharjhala, Sadepani, Baliya and Bhajani VDC offices.
The general strike called by JTSC in Tarai districts entered eighth day on Wednesday. The Tharu communities took to the streets accusing the government of failing to implement the agreement reached between the two sides on March 14.
Normal life in western Tarai districts was badly affected due to the general strike. Passengers heading to several destinations have been stranded at different places for over a week. Offices, educational institutions as well as commercial institutions and other businesses remained shut.
Shortage of daily essentials including petroleum products has worsened in the Tarai as well as hilly districts.
Scores of people coming from India and heading to mid- and far-western hilly districts have been stranded at several places.
Groups of people with their backpacks could be seen walking to their destinations along the highways and trucks loaded with goods could be seen lined along the side of the roads.
Related story
Heavy snowfall throws life out of gear in Jumla
