Two cadres of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front died in police firing in Bhardaha and Rupni of Saptari late on Saturday night. Birendra Ram of Gadha- 9 and Nageshwor Yadav of Jamuni Madhyapur-7 in the district died after police opened fire during clash with the protesters which ensued after the latter obstructed vehicles under police escort.
Dozens of agitators were injured in the clash and were sent to Dharan for treatment. Tension flared up after the agitators blocked the road, preventing passage of buses and trucks on police escort, said police inspector Lal Dhawaj Subedi of Rajbiraj. According to SP Bhim Dhakal, the local administration had clamped a prohibitory order from 9 pm on Saturday until 7 am on Sunday. However, the protesters defied the order to carry out demonstration and attack the police.”At first, we dispersed them using tear gas shells,” Dhakal told Setopati. “However, they returned to attack security personnel using homemade weapons, petrol bombs. They also opened fire at us. So we had to do the firing in retaliation.”
Dozens of agitators were injured in the clash and were sent to Dharan for treatment. Tension flared up after the agitators blocked the road, preventing passage of buses and trucks on police escort, said police inspector Lal Dhawaj Subedi of Rajbiraj. According to SP Bhim Dhakal, the local administration had clamped a prohibitory order from 9 pm on Saturday until 7 am on Sunday. However, the protesters defied the order to carry out demonstration and attack the police.”At first, we dispersed them using tear gas shells,” Dhakal told Setopati. “However, they returned to attack security personnel using homemade weapons, petrol bombs. They also opened fire at us. So we had to do the firing in retaliation.”
