RAUTAHAT, May 16: Police shot two rounds of aerial shots in Sarlahi today, after a dispute broke out over the result of vote counting. Tensions have intensified in the district since the polling day on May 13.
Cadres and members of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) have blocked the East-West Highway and pelted stones at the Area Administration Office in Hariban Municipality-7. The scene became tense after the CPN-UML candidate Nirdhwaj Karki won the local polls with just one vote against his closest rival Ashok Thapa of NC. The members of NC had rejected the results and demanded a recount of the votes.
Police fire five rounds of teargas shells to open highway
After the dispute, the counting of votes in other wards was also stopped and the NC members took a stand for a recount. The NC has become infuriated after the Election Officer of Hariban Municipality, Rudra Prasad Acharya, published a notice stating that there is no need for recounting the ballot papers.
The police had fired two rounds of tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd after the agitated party members staged demonstrations and pelted stones at the administration office.
The party members are currently staging a protest by imposing ‘curfew on the East-West Highway’.
