Eighteen people were injured in sporadic clashes between banda enforcers and locals defying the banda in Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district on Thursday. More than 20 vehicles were vandalised in the incidents.

The local people took to the streets in retaliation as the banda enforcers vandalised houses, vehicles, shops and Siddharthanagar City Hospital during their march to Belhiya from Buddhachok. The locals claimed the protesters who resorted to vandalism were new faces in the town.

Around 5,000 banda supporters, wielding rods and batons, gathered at Buddhachok and marched towards Belhiya. They indiscriminately vandalised vehicles, houses, shops and even beat the locals, according to the locals.

The clashes ensued as the banda enforcers reached Belhiya near Bhairahawa Customs where a crowd of around 500 local people charged at the protesters in retaliation. The locals torched two tractors and a vehicle used by the banda enforcers.

The security personnel resorted to baton-charge and lobbed four teargas canisters and fired three rounds of rubber bullet to take the situation under control.

Meanwhile, the local administration has clamped curfew in and around Bhairahawa from 8pm till 5am on Friday in view of the possible clashes.

Supporters of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and Tharuhat have called the banda in the area for the past one week in protest of the six-state federal setup.

The indefinite banda affected life in several districts, including Saptari, Siraha, Morang, Sunsari, Udayapur, Dhanusha, Jhapa, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu, Bardiya, Banke, Kailali, Kanchanpur. The banda enforcers vandalised vehicles, including ambulances and press vehicles during protests in several places.

In Saptari, locals staged demonstration at Bhardaha and other places in the district to protest the death of Rajiv Raut who was killed in police firing on Tuesday. A condolence meet, scheduled for Thursday, was postponed due incessant rain on the day.

The protesters vandalised dozens of vehicles, eateries and shops in Dhanusa district. The banda enforcers vandalised an ambulance at Janaki Chowk, Janakpur.

Meanwhile in initiation of business community, various professional organisations took out a goodwill rally in Biratnagar in protest of the protracted banda. The rally moved around the city, urging one and all to end the banda culture. A similar rally was also taken out at Taulihawa in Kapilvastu district.

Kantipur van smashed

BARDIYA: Tharuhat activists on Thursday vandalised a press vehicle of Kantipur Publications at Basamadi area in Bardiya district. The protesters intercepted a Tata mobile and smashed window screen it for “defying banda”. The vehicle was returning after delivering the Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies in Mahendranagar. The banda enforcers also deflated the tyres of the vehicle. Six vehicles, including ambulance and press van, were vandalised in Banke on Wednesday night. The protesters ambushed a Mehalkuna-bound ambulance and press van carrying Nagarik daily.

Protest continues in Karnali

JUMLA: Demonstrators entered the restricted zone in the district on Thursday and replaced the signboard that reads “Karnali Autonomous Region” at the District Administration Office in Kalanga. They have been protesting against the agreement of federal set-up for the past 12 days. Similarly, Mugu, Humla, Kalikot and Dolpa districts also witnessed peaceful demonstrations.

(With inputs from localcorrespondents)