SARLAHI, July 2: The family members of the youth who died during a police firing near Banke forest of Sarlahi on Sunday and the one who drowned in a pit dug up near Banke River on Saturday have refused to claim the dead bodies until their demands are addressed.

Both families have demanded that the victims be declared martyrs, their families be provided with appropriate relief, the injured be provided treatment, proper investigation into the shooting, stern action against those conducting rampant excavation in the river area, providing employment to at least one member from each family and free-education and other living expenses for the children of the deceased, according to Methur Chaudhary, Coordinator of the District Coordination Committee (DCC).On Monday evening, an all-party meeting under the chairmanship of Coordinator Chaudhary was organized at the DCC to discuss the issue. Political leaders from all parties participated in the meeting, however, the leaders of Nepal Communist party (NCP) backed out from the meeting after they could not agree with others.

On Saturday, eleven years old son of Lale Ray of Ishwarpur Municipality-13 died after falling into the pit dug by a crusher plant near Banke River to extract construction materials.

Following his death, locals and family members staged protests and obstructed the road in the district headquarters on Sunday. A clash erupted when the police tried to resume traffic. During the clash, police opened fire, killing 28 years old Saroj Narayan Mahato of Gaurishankar and injuring Raj Kumar Mahara, 21, of the same place.Likewise, 11 personnel of Nepal Police and six Armed Police Force personnel were injured in stone-pelting by the protesters.

After the all-party meeting, a memorandum was submitted to Chief District Officer Krishna Bahadur Raut that was later forwarded to the higher authorities.

 
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