Eastern Tarai districts had some semblance of normalcy after curfews were relaxed in several riot-affected areas on Wednesday.

Keeping in mind the festivals, local administration relaxed curfews in the areas, while agitating groups also simmered their protest programmes.

On Tuesday, District Administration Office Dhanusha de-listed the district from riot-affected areas and removed curfew from 9:30 pm. Markets were seen crowded throughout the day on occasion of Chauthchand and Teej celebrations.

In Mahottari, DAO has slowly loosened curfew after eight days resulting in heavy market activities. Curfew was lifted from 6 am to 8 pm for Wednesday. Earlier, curfew was lifted for only two to three hours a day.

Situation in Jaleshwor has also calmed down after a common funeral procession was held on Tuesday for six protesters who lost their lives.

Elsewhere, DAO Siraha partially lifted curfew around the highway from Wednesday morning. Chief District Officer Man Bahadur Biswokarma said that curfew was loosened keeping in mind the dwindling intensity of protests and the arrival of festivals. In Biratnagar, cadres of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha took out a baton rally despite the police publicly appealing them against it. Participants in the rally arrived in Biratnagar from several nearby villages in 65 trucks.

People from Rajbanshi community staged demonstrations in Biratnagar demanding that a separate Birat province be created incorporating Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts.

Meanwhile, Kirat Rai Yayokkha and Kirat Yakthung Chumlung have said that they will not accept the constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly. They have demanded separate Kirat and Limbuwan provinces.

Curfew in Dhangadhi lifted after 22 days

DHANGADHI: The local administration on Wednesday lifted curfew in Dhangadhi after 22 days. Assistant Chief District Officer Udaya Bahadur Singh said the curfew was lifted keeping in view the Teej festival. With the decision, the locals were relieved.

Police posts torched

KAPILVASTU: Activists of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) torched two police posts on Tuesday night. A group of some 200 protesters encircled the Labani Police Post along Taulihawa-Lumbini road stretch before torching it. Thirteen security personnel posted in the station fled. Documents and furniture were destroyed in the incident.

The protesters also torched Bijuwa Police Post. The post was recently evacuated citing security reasons.

Vandals charged with public offence

BARA/RAUTAHAT: Police in Bara filed pubic offence case against Jitendra Sonal, joint general secretary of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, along with the district chairman Nabal Kishwor Sing on Wednesday. Sonal and Singh were arrested on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in torching and vandalising factories and industries in Birgunj-Pathlaiya industrial corridor. Public offence case has also been filed against five SLMM activists in Rautahat.