Violent protest against the proposed seven-state federal model continued in several Tarai districts on Thursday, with enraged protesters setting alight a government office and a vehicle in Saptari.

People have been hit hard by the shortage of essential goods triggered by the protracted banda enforced by various Madhes-based parties, Tharuhat activists and other groups.  

In Saptari, the demonstrators torched the District Soil Conservation Office for defying banda. Important document and furniture were destroyed in the arson. The banda enforcers also torched a Bolero jeep parked on the office premises.

The demonstrators hurled stones and batons at vehicles operated with security escort on the Bhardaha-Koshi Barrage stretch of the East-West Highway. Some

passengers and vehicle staffers sustained injuries in the incident.

In Biratnagar, clashes took place at various locations where the protesters hurled bottles and stones using catapults while police lobbed teargas canisters to contain the situation. Mahavir Chok, Gudri, Kesaliya road, Janandolan Chowk, among other places, witnessed violent protests.

In Siraha, the UCPN (Maoist) activists staged demonstration, demanding an autonomous Madhes state. They took out a protest rally that later converged into a corner meeting.

Media closed citing insecurity

NEPALGUNJ: Local newspapers halted their publications and local FM stations stopped their broadcasting in Banke on Thursday after supporters of Tharuhat Struggle Committee manhandled Binod Ghimire, publisher of Mission Today Daily, in his office. They also misbehaved with Pujan Bishwokarma of local Pratobodh FM.

The Banke chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalist filed a complaint at Area Police Office in Kohalpur, demanding action against the culprit.

The committee later apologised for the incident in a statement.

UCPN (Maoist) activists stage protest

RAUTAHAT: The activists of UCPN-Maoist staged a protest in Gaur, demanding that the government withdraw its decision declaring riot zone on Thursday. Police arrested four people who entered the prohibited zone and protested against the decision of local administration. Gaur was declared a riot zone after a protester, Raj Kishor Thakur, was killed in police firing.

High-level probe team reaches Tikapur

TIKAPUR: The high-level government probe team led by Debiram Sharma began investigation into Tikapur incident on Thursday. The team inspected the incident site and gathered information from the locals.

Ganesh Adhikari, a member of the team, said they will identify the major reasons and causes of the incident.

Meanwhile, the local administration on Thursday deduced the curfew hours by three hours between 7 and 10am in Tikapur. The curfew was an hour shorter on Wednesday.

142-km human chain for undivided Baglung

BAGLUNG: Around 100,000 people on Thursday formed a 142-km human chain between Maldhunga of Baglung and Nisi, the border area of Rukum, demanding an undivided Baglung district.

They demonstrated against the proposed federal set-up in the draft constitution that splits the district between  two provinces.

(With inputs from district correspondents)