(Updated with correction, 1302 NST, 0717 GMT)
CHITWAN, March 7: The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction has taken initiative to hold talks with the Thrau agitating groups at Singha Durbar Saturday afternoon to discuss their demands.
Two-way traffic resumes on Narayanghat-Mugling road section
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalis expected to participate in the negotiation, said his press advisor Om Sharma. "He is positive toward the demand of the Tharu community," Sharma told myrepublica.com. (Earlier, we reported the venue was at the PM´s official residence at Baluwatar.) [break]
Meanwhile, the situation in Chitwan, which was turning to normalcy following lift of curfew from 12 a.m. Saturday, is again becoming tense after the demonstrators resumed protests early Saturday morning.
Tharus protesting the categorization of their community as Madhesi group had agreed to hold their protests in a peaceful manner from Saturday.
The demonstrators continued their protests shifting their epicenters of the agitation to Bharatpur and Narayanghat market areas. Situation in these two major business areas in Chitwan was normal earlier.
Businesses, vehicular movement and other activities in Narayanghat thoroughfares have remained totally closed on Saturday. Even rickshaw pullers have been prevented in the areas.
The demonstrators continued their protests in Parsa, Sauraha, Bakullahar, Tandi, and Bhanuchowk, among other places in the eastern part of Chitwan district.
The local authorities have mobilized security personnel in large numbers in Bharatpur, Narayanghat, and in the eastern part of the district to disperse the protestors.
The protestors set fire to a Toyota jeep at Tikalpur-1 in Nawalparasi district along the East-West Highway on Saturday morning allegedly for defying the strike.
Also, the protestors vandalized an ambulance and a bus at Rajahar Dumkauli in Nawalparasi. Local markets in the areas are closed.
Three people -- two protestors and one policeman -- were killed in two days. The Tharus began their demonstrations four days ago and their banda call in west central parts of the Tarai has entered sixth day.
In an emergency all-party meeting at the district administration office on Friday evening following an upsurge in violence in Ratnanagar Municipality, the participants had reached an agreement to continue the protests, albeit in a peaceful manner.
