The cadres of agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) defied curfew order in Birgunj and staged demonstration at various places in the bordering town on Tuesday. They have been hurling petrol bombs at the security patrol.

The indefinite curfew order was imposed by local administration after an Indian protester Aashish Ram was killed in police firing on Monday, triggering protests that have been ongoing from the past three months. 

The protesters hurled Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) at Maisthan area, leaving two people injured. The injured ones are Bharat Nepal who works at the Sirsiya Dry Port Customs Office and a journalist Biddyarthi Giri of local bi-weekly magazine. They are receiving treatment at Narayani sub-regional hospital. 

The petrol bomb aimed at police patrol team injured the locals, eyewitnesses said. Also, one police constable Harendra Prasad Kusahawa sustained eye injuries after being hit by a catapult stone from the protesters. 

The protesters also set fire to a cash counter of Nepal Telecom at Ghantaghar at around 4 pm. However, police doused the fire in time preventing further damages. More than dozens sustained injuries when police wielded batons to contain the violent protesters.

The protesters, defying the curfew, burnt tyres and demonstrated at Laxmana, Nagawa, Brahma Chok, Maisthan, Murli Chok, and Chapakaiya, among other areas.

Police fired a dozen shots into the air and lobbed teargas shells at Brahma Chok and Nagawa after protesters became too aggressive. 

The reports of protests have been coming in from the various parts of Birgunj. Security has been beefed up in the areas. The SLMM leaders and cadres have been staging sit-in at Miteri Bridge along Nepal-India border today as well, said Sanghiya Samabesi Madhesi Morcha’s Rajeshman Singh.