Although the government withdrew its decision to move the land survey and land revenue offices to Chandranigahapur, the agitating locals said they would not sit for talks with the government unless Ram Ashish Thakur, who died after being hit by a police van, is declared a martyr.
Thakur, 61, of Gaur-10 died on Friday evening while receiving treatment at Gaur Hospital. With Thakur's death, the agitating locals have been staging protests and have forwarded a seven-point demand, which includes compensation to the victim's family and declaration of Thakur as a martyr.
According to Kantha Mani Jasawal, chairman of Rautahat chapter of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, agitating locals took to streets and continued their demonstrations for the sixth day. Locals accused the police of using excessive force to disperse the demonstrators and breaking into people's houses.
Around 400 protesters had gathered around the Armed Police Force base camp at Belbichuwa and encircled the camp in the morning, according to locals. Inspector Ram Kumar Mahat said the protestors attempted to attack and vandalize the camp.
The District Administration Office (DAO) had called the agitating sides for talks to settle the issue. The first round of talks, however, could not yield any result.
Second round of talks between the locals and the government team was held at 9 pm on Sunday, but the talks did not yield result as agitators refused to compromise and stuck to their original demands. "The failure to come to reach an agreement shows that the government is not willing to address our demands," said Babu Lal Shah, chairman of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party.
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