Supporters of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha continued to demonstrate against the proposed seven-state federal model in Siraha, Mahottari and Dhanusha districts, defying the curfew and prohibition orders issued by the local authorities on Thursday.

Demonstrators and security forces clashed in Lahan, Siraha, even after the area was declared a riot-affected zone and Nepal Army soldiers were mobilised. The Morcha supporters torched a truck and a motorcycle inside the prohibition zone and obstructed the East West Highway. They also set fire to a tractor’s trolley belonging to the District Agriculture Development Office and threw stones at government offices at the district headquarters.

In Mahottari, the demonstrators clashed with security forces at Shankhar Chowk, Matihani Chowk, Cinema Hall Chowk and Hospital Chowk. Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells at demonstrators who retaliated with stones and bricks. The local authorities’ decision to extend the curfew period in the district had almost no effect on the Morcha supporters who descended on the streets. An all-women rally was also held where the participants carried brooms as symbol of their protest against the proposed state delineation.

The Dhanusha district administration also clamped an indefinite curfew in Janakpur considering the possibility of violent activities in the town. Despite the curfew notice, the Morcha supporters continued to stage demonstration. An unidentified group threw Molotov cocktail on a police vehicle carrying Superintendent of Police Rabindra Thakur at Bhanu Chowk. SP Thakur was on a patrol at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, the Morcha’s youth front appealed the Dhanusha-based shopkeepers and traders to cut off all provisions and essential supplies to the members of security forces in the district.

In Bara, the Morcha supporters set fire to a private vehicle of Chief of Kalaiya Hospital Sailesh Jha on Thursday. Jha said the protesters also assaulted him, accusing that his hospital did not issue “proper autopsy report” of Hiphajat Miya who had died in police firing on September 1. Local Morcha leader Rambabu Kumar Yadav said the hospital had provided false autopsy report to support the security personnel.

The Morcha supporters torched and vandalised some vehicles at Duhabi in Sunsari. They also obstructed the security personnel from escorting vehicles from Jhumka and Pakali areas in the district.

In Morang district, clashes erupted between demonstrators and security personnel at Roadshes Chowk and Malaya Road of Biratnagar. Police said the skirmish broke out when they intervened as the protesters were trying to set fire to a plastic factory. The factory’s security guard was also injured in the melee.

Superintendent of Police Tarini Prasad Lamsal said the Morcha supporters also tried to obstruct the roads and vandalised the motorcycle of Kantipur TV reporter Binaya Rajbanshi. Two other journalists were also attacked.

The Morcha leaders in Sarlahi, meanwhile, are exerting pressure on police to remove their security posts in some villages. Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Khadka said the Morcha activists visited six police posts in the district and threatened to assault the officers there if they did not evacuate their beats immediately. The Morcha supporters also set fire to two police check-posts at Barahathawa and Madhubani.

(With inputs from our districts correspondents)