Supporters of Madhes-based parties continued their sit-in at the no-man’s-land of Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha border point on Tuesday as well.

They obstructed the cross-border cargo movement by pitching tents on the crossing. Only motorcycles and rickshaws were allowed passage.

The agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha stepped up its protest at the border point following a clash with security personnel on Monday. A large number of Morcha supporters assembled at the no-man’s-land, defying request of the Indian border security force, Sashastra Seema Bal, not to stage their protest there after Monday’s violence.

The Indian border authorities also closed off the border for four-wheelers on Tuesday in view of the gram panchayat elections.

Chief District Officer (CDO) of Banke and senior security officials held informal talks with their Indian counterparts regarding border security.

Both sides expressed concerns over escalating violence at the border areas. The Nepali officials complained that the protesters were using the no-man’s-land to stage their protest, and the Indian side was not doing anything about it.

Meanwhile, the Indian officials claimed that Nepali security personnel had fired some shots from the no-man’s-land towards Indian soil on Monday night. They also showed the bullet shells recovered from the scene. The representatives of Nepal Police claimed that the bullet shells were not theirs.

CDO Bed Prakash Lekhak said the next round of meeting will sit on Wednesday.

Mahato: Take action against Tarai lawmakers

MORANG: Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato has instructed his party activists to take action against Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) lawmakers representing the Tarai constituencies.

Addressing a mass meeting organised in Dayania Bazaar in Morang on Tuesday, Mahato told the party cadres to take action against the lawmakers who oppose the cause of Madhes. He warned that the Madhesi youths will wage an armed war if their demands are not addressed. Meanwhile, Madhesi intellectuals took out a rally in Saptari to press the government into addressing the demands of Madhes.

Students rally in Kalaiya

BARA: School students from Bara district took out a rally at the district headquarters, Kalaiya, on Tuesday, demanding the government and the agitating parties to respect their right to education. They also expressed solidarity with the demands of Madhes and urged the government to address them. The students also formed a human chain along the Birgunj-Pathlaiya and Kalaiya-Birgunj road sections.

Nepali transport workers assaulted in Sunauli

Madhav Dhungana (Bhairahawa)

Indian security forces have allegedly assaulted around a dozen Nepali transport workers in Sunauli, India. Four of the cargo drivers sustained serious injuries on their hands.

Seven injured drivers filed a complaint at Area Police Office in Belhiya, Rupandehi, stating that the Indian security personnel severely beat them on Monday night. The victims have been waiting for customs clearance at the Bhairahawa-Sunauli border point for the past two weeks.

Cargo driver Sanyog Thapa said Indian security forces misbehaved with them. “We questioned to the Indian authorities after the vehicles behind us got customs clearance at first,” said Thapa adding that the Indian authorities demanded huge amount of money to cross the border area.

Another driver Kaji Adhikari said the Indian security personnel manhandled them after they denied to grease their hands. “They demanded Rs10,000 from each truck to cross the border,” he claimed.

Inspector Avaya Bikram Shahi at the Area Police Office, Belhiya, said that he took up the matter with the in-charge of Indian Police in Sunauli. “Indian authorities informed that the incident took place due to the dispute between the cargo drivers,” said Shahi.

Superintendent of Police Buddhi Bahadur Gurung said Indian authorities have agreed to provide medical expenses to the injured transport workers.