JANAKPUR/ MAHOTTARI/RAUTAHAT/BIRGUNJ, Sept 2: As protests in the Tarai-Madhes districts continue for a 19th day on Wednesday, the agitating parties held demonstrations in defiance of prohibitory orders and also in some areas in Rautahat, Parsa and Bara districts that were declared riot-hit zones by the local administrations.
The protests that also targetted the draft constitution and the proposed federal setup turned violent in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts, Wednesday.Following the violent protests, a prohibitory order was issued in the Janakpur area for an indefinite period Wednesday, according to District Administration Office (DAO), Dhanusha.
With demonstrations staged by hundreds of agitators, prohibitory areas have been declared in specific parts of Janakpur, the district headquarters.
During the demonstrations, the agitating locals and supporters of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) blocked the roads and burnt tyres at different localities of the district. The agitators clashed with police at two different sites -- Bhanu Chowk and Murali Chowk.
To disperse the crowds of demonstrators and bring the situation under control, police lobbed several tear gas shells, according to the district police office (DPO), Dhanusha.
However, no injuries in the clash have been reported from the district.
Protestors torch police beat
Hundreds of locals and supporters affiliated to the agitating Madhesi parties torched a police beat situated at Zero Mile of Jaleshwar, district headquarters of Mahottari.
The situation had turned violent when cadres of the UDMF clashed with police at Mahendra Chowk. Police lobbed teargas shells and fired into the air to disperse the demonstrators. No one has been injured in the incident.
Security has been tightened in Jaleshwar, which has remained tense for the last few days, according to DPO Mahottari.
Nine police posts removed, riot-hit zone declared in Bara
Following the death of Hifajat Miya during Tuesday's protests, the DPO Bara removed nine different police outposts from the rural areas on Wednesday.
After district headquarters Kalaiya was declared a riot-hit zone, demonstrators shifted their activities to the villages. Fearing possible attacks on police posts, local police units have been removed for the time being, as per the DPO.
Rautahat protesters agitate in riot-hit zones
Over a thousand supporters of UDMF and the Rastriya Muslim Sangharsa Gathbandhan from different villages staged demonstrations in the riot-hit areas of Gaur, district headquarters of Rautahat on Wednesday.
Security personnel lobbed a dozen teargas shells and opened fire into the air to disperse the protestors.
Locals accuse APF personnel of abusive behavior
Some security personnel of the Armed Police Force (APF) were reportedly involved in abusing and thrashing locals in Birgunj after entering into their settlements following the declaration of a riot-hit zone by the local administration on Tuesday.
Responding to complaints by locals, Nepal Police personnel have been deployed to pacify the irate folks, according to DPO, Parsa.
Earlier, police had shot dead six agitators during protesters in Birgunj on Monday and Tuesday.
According to civil society leaders, locals of Birgunj have been been terrified following the use of lethal force during protests and abusive behavior by APF personnel.
"APF SP Bhim Bahadur Thapa scolded me when I complained about abuse by APF personnel," said Ram Sarraf, chairperson of Samudayik Sewa Kendra, Shreepur, Birgunj.
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