The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), who has been demonstrating in several Tarai districts against the proposed seven-state federal set-up, decided not to receive the bodies of the deceased persons until their demands are addressed.

A SLMM meeting on Saturday decided not to take the bodies of three people killed in police firing until the government declares them martyrs and lift the curfew orders in Janakpur. Twelve-year-old Dilip Yadav, Niku Kumar Yadav, 18, and Sanjay Chaudhary, 37, died of bullet-inflicted injuries.

Dhanusha Chairman of Sadbhawana Party Sanjaya Kumar Singh said they decided not to receive the bodies until their demands will be addressed.

The District Security Committee imposed curfew in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts also on Saturday. The local administration lifted curfew between 6 and 8 pm on Saturday to let the locals buy daily essentials.But there were sporadic incidents of protesters defying curfew and clashing with police.

The protesters torched police stations at Banarjhula and Musarniya in Dhanusha district and the Area Police Office at Mirchaiya in Siraha.  Seven people, including an Armed Police Force personnel, died during protests on Wednesday and Friday in Mahottari.

In Sarlahi, police foiled an attempted attack on Kabilasi Police Post on Saturday. The security personnel fired five warning shots into the air to disperse the enraged crowd that vandalised the post. DSP Ramesh Khada said police had opened fire in self defence after the crowd started vandalising the post and hurled a petrol bomb at them. Four protesters, including Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party lawmaker Jangilal Raya, were detained for their alleged involvement in the attack.

In Biratnagar, protesters took out a motorcycle rally from the Roadshesh Chok to the border of Sunsari. Similarly in Itahari, the writers also requested the government and protesters to maintain peace in the country through their writings.

Three trucks torched

BARA: Activists of the agitating Samyukta Loktan-trik Madhesi Morcha torched three trucks at Manaharwa-5 along the Kalaiya-Piluwa road stretch on Saturday. The vehicles were carrying sugar to Kathmandu and Tanahun from Manaharwa-based Reliance Sugar Mill. A group of around 20 people doused the vehicles with petrol and set them on fire.

Defied in Bardiya, continues in Banke

NEPALGUNJ: Business activities resumed in Bardiya district headquarters Gulariya on Saturday, defying banda enforced by Tharuhat campaigners and Madhes-based parties.

The markets were opened in Gulariya on the orders of Bardiya Chamber of Commerce and Industry. However, the protesters continued their violent demonstrations in Banke district. Six protesters were injured in a clash with security personnel at Kohalpur. The protesters warned to intensify stir, claiming that the major parties were not serious about addressing their demands.

Protest demanding Sherpa State

OKHALDHUNGA: Sherpa communities living in the mountainous region announced banda, demanding a Sherpa State. The Sherpa State Committee and Nepal Sherpa Association told a press conference on Saturday that they would call banda in the proposed Sherpa state on September 13 and 14.

(With inputs from our district correspondents)