Locals at Bharadaha in Saptari district took to the streets on Wednesday, protesting the death of Rajiv Raut who was shot by police during a banda on Tuesday. Soon after the local authorities lifted the curfew, the locals descended on the street, demanding that Raut be declared a martyr and adequate compensation be provided to the his family. They also torched a police beat at Bhardaha Chowk.

A resident of Bhardaha-1, 24-four-year-old Raut succumbed to bullet injuries in police firing during the banda enforced by Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) on Tuesday. His body is kept at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. Police said they had to resort to firing after the protesters started attacking the Area Police Office.

A curfew was declared in Bharadaha and its vicinity till 5am on Wednesday to take the situation under control.

 Putting forth a nine-point demand to the government, SLMM on Wednesday urged to declare the victim a martyr, provide Rs 2 million compensation to the victim’s family, form a high-level probe team to investigate into the incident, provide employment to Raut’s wife and education to his children and take legal action against the guilty.

Raut, a father of two, was an ordinary farmer from an impoverished family. He grew bananas on his rented two bighas of land and was the sole bread winner of the family.

Meanwhile, continuous banda has severely affected life in various districts in the region, with prices of essential commodities escalating and students confined to their homes. Sagarmatha Ambulance Driver Association halted ambulance service in Siraha, Saptari, Udayapur and Okhaldhunga among other districts to protest thrashing of amulances by banda enforcers. The association said it was compelled to stop service as protesters continued to vandalise ambulances in Siraha and Saptari.

In Biratnagar, the business community staged a demonstration against the banda on Wednesday. They took out a vehicle rally demanding to stop bandas across the country.

Protest continues in Kapilvastu

KAPILVASTU: Taulihawa, district headquarters of Kapilvastu, remained tense on Wednesday as violent protests continued against the proposed six-state federal model.

A violent clash ensued for about five hours as infuriated protesters pelted security personnel with stones. Eleven demonstrators and eight police personnel sustained injuries in the incident. Police used 107 teargas canisters and fired 27 rounds in the air to contain the situation. Protesters, however, claimed that police fired rubber bullets at the protesters. Rights activist Raksharam Harijan said two protesters sustained bullet injuries on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, life gradually returned to normalcy in various districts in the Mid West. Local administration in Jumla lifted curfew after four days on Wednesday as schools opened in Banke. Protesters in Jumla postponed the agitation in view of Nagpanchami festival.